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P( x) an x n an 1 x n 1 ... a2 x 2 a1 x a0 ,
where the coefficients an, an - 1, …, a1, a0 are real numbers and the exponents are whole
numbers.
Constant 0 f(x) = 4
Linear 1 f(x) = 3x + 1
Quadratic 2 f(x) = 4x2 x + 9
Cubic 3 f(x) = x3 +2x2 x + 11
Quartic 4 f(x) = x4 3.2x3 + 0.1x
The Leading-Term Test
Example
A) f ( x) 3 x 4 2 x 3 3
B) f ( x) 5 x 3 x 2 4 x 2
C) f ( x) x 5 14 x 1
D) f ( x) x 6 x5 4 x3
Solution
x5 Odd Positive A
(Turning points on a graph, also called relative maxima and minima, occur
when the function changes from decreasing to increasing or from increasing
to decreasing.)
Steps to Graph a Polynomial Function
1. Use the leading-term test to determine the end behavior.
2. Find the zeros of the function by solving f(x) = 0. Any real zeros are the
first coordinates of the x-intercepts.
3. Use the x-intercepts (zeros) to divide the x-axis into intervals and choose a
test point in each interval to determine the sign of all function values in
that interval.
4. Find f(0). This gives the y-intercept of the function.
5. If necessary, find additional function values to determine the general shape
of the graph and then draw the graph.
6. As a partial check, use the facts that the graph has at most n x-intercepts
and at most n 1 turning points.
Example
Graph the polynomial function f(x) = 2x3 + x2 8x 4.
Solution:
1. The leading term is 2x3. The degree, 3, is odd, the coefficient, 2, is positive. Thus
the end behavior of the graph will appear as:
2. To find the zero, we solve f(x) = 0. Here we can use factoring by grouping.
Example cont
Factor:
2 x3 x 2 8 x 4 0
x 2 (2 x 1) 4(2 x 1) 0
(2 x 1)( x 2 4) 0
(2 x 1)( x 2)( x 2) 0
The zeros are 1/2, 2, and 2. The x-intercepts are (2, 0),
(1/2, 0), and (2, 0).
3. The zeros divide the x-axis into four intervals:
(, 2), (2, 1/2), (1/2, 2), and (2, ).
We choose a test value for x from each interval and find f(x).
Example cont
Interval Test Function Sign of f(x) Location of
Value, x value, f(x) points on graph
A) f ( x) x 3 x 2 4 x 4
B) f ( x) x 4 x 3x
4 3 2