Graph of Polynomial

1
 Polynomial Function
A polynomial function of degree n is
n n 1
f ( x)  an x  an 1 x      a0

where the a’s are real numbers and

the n’s are nonnegative integers
and an  0.
 Characteristics
The graph of a polynomial function…
1. Is continuous.
2. Has smooth, rounded turns.
3. For n even, both sides go same way.
4. For n odd, sides go opposite way.
5. For a > 0, right side goes up.
6. For a < 0, right side goes down.
2x3- 3x2- 12x + 8
a. Leading coefficient
b. Right end
c. Left end
2x3- 3x2- 12x + 8
a. Leading coefficient
b. Right end
c. Left end
 5
x - 5x – 3x
4 3 + 15x 2
- 4x + 20
a. Leading coefficient
b. Right end
c. Left end
 Leading Coefficient Test: n odd
n n 1
f ( x)  an x  an 1 x      a0
graphs of a polynomial function for n odd:
.

an > 0 f ( x)   f ( x)   an < 0
as x   as x  

f ( x )   f ( x )  
as x   as x  
 Leading Coefficient Test: n even
n n 1
f ( x)  an x  an 1 x      a0
graphs of a polynomial function for n even:
.

an > 0 an < 0

f ( x)   f ( x)  
as x   as x  

f ( x )   f ( x )  
as x   as x  
 Roots, Zeros, Solutions
The following statements are equivalent for
real number a and polynomial function f :
1. x = a is root or zero of f.
2. x = a is solution of f (x) = 0.
3. (x - a) is factor of f (x).
4. (a, 0) is x-intercept of graph of f (x).
 Repeated Roots (Zeros)
1. If a polynomial function contains
k
a factor (x - a) , then x = a is a
repeated root of multiplicity k.
2. If k is even, the graph touches
(not crosses) the x-axis at x = a.
3. If k is odd, the graph crosses the
x-axis at x = a.
Upper and Lower Bound
f(x) is a polynomial with real coefficients
and an > 0 with
f(x)  (x - c), using synthetic division:
1. If c > 0 and each # in last row is either
positive or zero, c is an upper bound.
2. If c < 0 and the #’s in the last row
alternate positive and negative, c is an
lower bound.
Example 4: Upper and Lower Bound
2x 
3 3x 12x + 8 divided by x + 3
2

-3 2 -3 -12 8
-6 27 -45

2 -9 15 -37
c = -3 < 0 and #’s in last row alternate
positive/negative. Thus, x = -3 is a
lower bound to real roots.