GRAPHS OF

POLYNOMIAL
FUNCTIONS
 Recall: Graph of Constant Function
Polynomial of degree 0 f(x) = b
real number

b is the y-intercept

Domain: set of real numbers

Range: set of {b}

Graphs of Polynomial Functions 2

 Recall: Graph of Linear Function
Polynomial of degree 1 f(x) = ax + b
real number real number
not equal to 0

If a > 0 If a < 0
b is the y-intercept b is the y-intercept

is the x-intercept is the x-intercept

Domain: set of real numbers

Range: set of real numbers
Graphs of Polynomial Functions 3
 Recall: Graph of Quadratic Function
Polynomial of degree 2
real number real real
not equal to 0 number number

If a > 0 If a < 0

Vertex:

Domain: set of real numbers Domain: set of real numbers

Range: Range:

Graphs of Polynomial Functions 4

 Graph of Polynomial Function

is not integer greater than

equal to 0 or equal to 3

real numbers

Graphs of Polynomial Functions 5

Characteristics of the Graphs of Polynomial Functions:
Behavior of the Graph

n is even n is odd

Graphs of Polynomial Functions 6

 Characteristics of the Graphs of Polynomial Functions:
Zeros of the Polynomial Function
Consider the polynomial function

Zeros of Polynomial: 1 of multiplicity 2 -2

graph of f(x) crosses graph of f(x) is tangent to

the x-axis at x = -2 the x-axis at x = 1

If c is a zero of odd If c is a zero of even

multiplicity, the graph multiplicity, the graph of
of f(x) crosses the x- f(x) is tangent to the x-
axis at x=c. axis at x=c.

Graphs of Polynomial Functions 7

Characteristics of the Graphs of Polynomial Functions:
Number of Turning Points of the Graph
The graph of a polynomial function of degree n has at most n – 1
turning points.
Consider (–1, 4)

Turning points

(1, 0)

Graphs of Polynomial Functions 8

 Graph of Polynomial Function
Example 1:
Sketch the graph of
Find the y-intercept
Let x = 0

(0, -16)
Find the x-intercept

(2, 0), (-2, 0), (-4, 0)

Graphs of Polynomial Functions 9

 Graph of Polynomial Function
Example 1:
Sketch the graph of
Determine the behavior of the graph

Leading Coefficient: Positive

Degree: Odd
Therefore, the graph of f(x) comes up
from left and goes up to the right.

Graphs of Polynomial Functions 10

 Graph of Polynomial Function
Example 1:
Sketch the graph of
Determine the number of turning points

n is the degree of the polynomial function

n - 1 is the highest number of turning points
of the polynomial function
3-1=2
The polynomial function has at most two
turning points.

Graphs of Polynomial Functions 11

 Graph of Polynomial Function
Example 1:
Sketch the graph of
Take note of the intervals
Interval Test Value f(x) Location of graph

Graphs of Polynomial Functions 12

 Graph of Polynomial Function
Example 1:
Sketch the graph of
Take note of the intervals
Interval Test Value f(x) Location of graph

Graphs of Polynomial Functions 13

 Graph of Polynomial Function
Example 2:
Sketch the graph of
Find the y-intercept
Let x = 0

(0, 0)
Find the x-intercept

(0, 0), (-2, 0), (-3, 0), (1, 0)

Graphs of Polynomial Functions 14

 Graph of Polynomial Function
Example 2:
Sketch the graph of
Determine the behavior of the graph

Leading Coefficient: Positive

Degree: Odd
Therefore, the graph of f(x) comes up
from left and goes up to the right.

Graphs of Polynomial Functions 15

 Graph of Polynomial Function
Example 2:
Sketch the graph of
Determine the number of turning points

n is the degree of the polynomial function

n - 1 is the highest number of turning points
of the polynomial function
5-1=4
The polynomial function has at most four
turning points.

Graphs of Polynomial Functions 16

 Graph of Polynomial Function
Example 2:
Sketch the graph of
Take note of the intervals
Interval Test Value f(x) Location of graph

Graphs of Polynomial Functions 17

 Graph of Polynomial Function
Example 2:
Sketch the graph of
Take note of the intervals
Interval Test Value f(x) Location of graph

Graphs of Polynomial Functions 18

 Graph of Polynomial Function
Example 3:
Sketch the graph of
Find the y-intercept
Let x = 0

(0, 2)
Find the x-intercept

(2, 0), (-1, 0), (1, 0)

Graphs of Polynomial Functions 19

 Graph of Polynomial Function
Example 3:
Sketch the graph of
Determine the behavior of the graph
Leading Coefficient: Positive
Degree: Even
Therefore, the graph of f(x) comes down
from the left and goes up to the right.

Graphs of Polynomial Functions 20

 Graph of Polynomial Function
Example 3:
Sketch the graph of
Determine the number of turning points

n is the degree of the polynomial function

n - 1 is the highest number of turning points
of the polynomial function
6-1=5
The polynomial function has at most five
turning points.

Graphs of Polynomial Functions 21

 Graph of Polynomial Function
Example 3:
Sketch the graph of

Take note of the intervals

Interval Test Value f(x) Location of graph

Graphs of Polynomial Functions 22

 Graph of Polynomial Function
Example 3:
Sketch the graph of

Take note of the intervals

Interval Test Value f(x) Location of graph

Graphs of Polynomial Functions 23

 Graph of Polynomial Function
Example 4: Find the values of x for which
Use graphical approach

Find the y-intercept (0, -40)

Find the x-intercept (-4, 0), (-2, 0), (5, 0)
Behavior of the graph

Number of turning points At most 2

Graphs of Polynomial Functions 24

 Graph of Polynomial Function
Example 4: Find the values of x for which
Use graphical approach

Find the y-intercept (0, -40)

Find the x-intercept (-4, 0), (-2, 0), (5, 0)
Behavior of the graph

Number of turning points At most 2

Graphs of Polynomial Functions 25

 Graph of Polynomial Function
Example 4: Find the values of x for which

The function values are positive at the

(-4, 0) (-2, 0) (5, 0) intervals (-4, -2) and (5, +∞).

The solution set of the inequality

is

Graphs of Polynomial Functions 26

 Graph of Polynomial Function: Exercises

I. Sketch the graph of the following polynomial functions.

1.

2.

3.

II. Find the values of x for which

Graphs of Polynomial Functions 27