Polynomial

Functions
 POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS

A POLYNOMIAL is a monomial
or a sum of monomials.

A POLYNOMIAL IN ONE
VARIABLE is a polynomial that
contains only one variable.
Example: 5x2 + 3x - 7
 POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS
The DEGREE of a polynomial in one variable is
the greatest exponent of its variable.

A LEADING COEFFICIENT is the coefficient

of the term with the highest degree.

What is the degree and leading

coefficient of 3x5 – 3x +
2?
 POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS
A polynomial equation used to represent a
function is called a POLYNOMIAL FUNCTION.
Polynomial functions with a degree of 1 are called
LINEAR POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS

Polynomial functions with a degree of 2 are called

QUADRATIC POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS
Polynomial functions with a degree of 3 are called
CUBIC POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS
You are already familiar with some types of polynomial
functions. Here is a summary of common types of
polynomial functions.

Degree Type Standard Form

0 Constant f (x) = a 0

1 Linear f (x) = a1x + a 0

2
2 Quadratic f (x) = a 2 x + a 1x + a 0
3 2
3 Cubic f (x) = a 3 x + a 2x + a 1x + a 0
4 3 2
4 Quartic f (x) = a4 x + a 3x + a 2x + a 1x + a
0
 Polynomial Functions
Polynomial Degree Name of
Function in General
Form Function
y  ax  b 1 Linear
y  ax 2  bx  c 2 Quadratic
y  ax 3  bx 2  cx  d 3 Cubic
y  ax 4  bx3  cx 2  dx  e 4 Quartic

The largest exponent within the polynomial

determines the degree of the polynomial.
IIdentifying Polynomial Functions

Decide whether the function is a polynomial function. If it is,

write the function in standard form and state its degree, type
and leading coefficient.

f (x) = 21 x 2 – 3x4 – 7

S OLUTION

The function is a polynomial function.

Its standard form is f (x) = – 3x 4 + 21 x 2 – 7.

It has degree 4, so it is a quartic function.

The leading coefficient is – 3.

IIdentifying Polynomial Functions

Decide whether the function is a polynomial function. If it is,

write the function in standard form and state its degree, type
and leading coefficient.

f (x) = x 3 + 3
x

S OLUTION

The function is not a polynomial function because the

term 3 x does not have a variable base and an
exponent that is a whole number.
IIdentifying Polynomial Functions

Decide whether the function is a polynomial function. If it is,

write the function in standard form and state its degree, type
and leading coefficient.

f (x) = 6x 2 + 2 x –1 +
x
S OLUTION

The function is not a polynomial function because the term

2x –1 has an exponent that is not a whole number.
IIdentifying Polynomial Functions

Decide whether the function is a polynomial function. If it is,

write the function in standard form and state its degree, type
and leading coefficient.

f (x) = – 0.5 x +  x 2 –
2
S OLUTION

The function is a polynomial function.

Its standard form is f (x) =  x2 – 0.5x –

2. It has degree 2, so it is a quadratic

function.

The leading coefficient is .

IIdentifying Polynomial Functions

Polynomial function?

f (x) = 21 x 2 – 3 x 4 –
7

f (x) = x 3 + 3x

f (x) = 6x2 + 2 x– 1 + x

f (x) = – 0.5x +  x2 –
2
 POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS
EVALUATING A POLYNOMIAL FUNCTION

Find f(-2) if f(x) = 3x2 – 2x – 6

f(-2) = 3(-2)2 – 2(-2) – 6

f(-2) = 12 + 4 – 6

f(-2) = 10
 POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS
EVALUATING A POLYNOMIAL FUNCTION

Find f(2a) if f(x) = 3x2 – 2x – 6

f(2a) = 3(2a)2 – 2(2a) – 6

f(2a) = 12a2 – 4a – 6
 POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS
EVALUATING A POLYNOMIAL FUNCTION

Find f(m + 2) if f(x) = 3x2 – 2x – 6

f(m + 2) = 3(m + 2)2 – 2(m + 2) – 6

f(m + 2) = 3(m2 + 4m + 4) – 2(m +2)– 6

f(m + 2) = 3m2 + 12m + 12 – 2m – 4– 6

f(m + 2) = 3m2 + 10m + 2

 POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS
EVALUATING A POLYNOMIAL FUNCTION

Find 2g(-2a) if g(x) = 3x2 – 2x – 6

2g(-2a) = 2[3(-2a)2 – 2(-2a) – 6]

2g(-2a) = 2[12a2 + 4a – 6]

2g(-2a) = 24a2 + 8a – 12
Examples of Polynomial Functions
Examples of Nonpolynomial Functions