Problem

Student Name : Student

Student Date: 04/13/2024
04/13/2024 3:57
3:57 PM
PM
Marcofragoso0
Marcofragoso0
Login Name : SMARCOFRAGOSO0
SMARCOFRAGOSO0 Class Name : PreCalculus
PreCalculus and
and
Problem
Problem Solving
Solving

Polynomial and Rational Functions

Determining the end behavior of the graph of a polynomial function

SAMPLE QUESTION

Choose the end behavior of the graph of each polynomial function.

6 4 3
(a) f x = − 6x − 2x + 2x − 6x
{(a) Rises, (b) Falls} to the left and
{(a) rises, (b) falls} to the right.

3 2
(b) f x = − 2x + 3x − 4x + 9
{(a) Rises, (b) Falls} to the left and
{(a) rises, (b) falls} to the right.

2
(c) f x = 3x x + 1 x − 4
{(a) Rises, (b) Falls} to the left and
{(a) rises, (b) falls} to the right.

EXPLANATION

n n−1
Consider a polynomial function f x = an x + a n − 1 x + ... + a1 x + a0 of degree n > 0.

As x increases or decreases without bound, the graph of f eventually rises or falls without bound.

This end behavior of the graph of f depends on the degree n and the leading coefficient an .

There are four cases to consider.

 Case 1:1: n is
Case is odd and an
odd and >0 Case 2: n is
Case 2: is odd and an
odd and <0

The graph of f eventually falls

falls to
to the
the left
left and The graph of f eventually rises
rises to
to the
the left
left and
rises
rises to
to the
the right
right. falls
falls to
to the
the right
right.

y y

x x

Case 3: n is
Case 3: is even and an
even and >0 Case 4: n is
Case 4: is even and an
even and <0

The graph of f eventually rises

rises to
to the
the left
left and The graph of f eventually falls
falls to
to the
the left
left and
rises
rises to
to the
the right
right. falls
falls to
to the
the right
right.

y y

x x

So, if f is of even degree, the graph of f either rises on both sides or falls on both sides.
This is just like quadratic functions, which are polynomial functions of degree 2.

And if f is of odd degree, the graph of f rises on one side and falls on the other side.
This is just like linear functions with nonzero slope, which are polynomial functions of degree 1.

The
The current
current problem:
problem:
 6 4 3
(a) f
(a) x = − 6x − 2x + 2x − 6x

The degree is 6 (which is even) and the leading coefficient is − 6 (which is negative).
So, Case 4 applies and the graph falls
falls to
to the
the left
left and
and falls
falls to
to the
the right
right.

3 2
(b) f
(b) x = − 2x + 3x − 4x + 9

The degree is 3 (which is odd) and the leading coefficient is − 2 (which is negative).
So, Case 2 applies and the graph rises
rises to
to the
the left
left and
and falls
falls to
to the
the right
right.

2
(c) f
(c) x = 3x x + 1 x − 4
We first find the leading term. Notice that we get the highest degree term in the product by multiplying the
highest degree term from each factor.

2
3x x + 1 x − 4
↓
2
Leading term = 3x·x·x
4
= 3x

4
The leading term is 3x .
The degree is 4 (which is even) and the leading coefficient is 3 (which is positive).
So, Case 3 applies and the graph rises
rises to
to the
the left
left and
and rises
rises to
to the
the right
right.

ANSWER

(a) Falls to the left and falls to the right

(b) Rises to the left and falls to the right
(c) Rises to the left and rises to the right