Graphing Polynomial

Functions
 LEARNING
TARGETS

• determine factors and roots or zeros

of polynomial functions
•  write the vertex form of a quadratic
function 
• make table of values for graphing 
• graph polynomial functions 
• determine the range of the function

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QUESTION 01 How will you determine the number of
roots whether real or not of a polynomial
function?

What do you mean by x-intercepts of

QUESTION 02 the graph? How is it related to the
roots of a polynomial function?

Given a graph, how will you determine the

QUESTION 03 range of a polynomial function?

How will you find the other points of the

QUESTION 04 graph of a polynomial function?
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Graphing Polynomial Functions
In the previous lesson, we defined the
polynomial function f as

where is a nonzero real number, and n is

a nonnegative integer.
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Graphing Polynomial Functions
Its domain is the set of all real numbers.
Its range depends on the values of n and the leading coefficient .
 If n is even and , the range of the polynomial function f is the
interval [, where m is the minimum value of f.
 If n is even and , the interval (, where M is the maximum value
of f.
 If n is odd, the range is the set of all real numbers (), and f has
no minimum nor maximum value.

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6
The Upper and Lower
Bound Theorem for
Real Roots
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 The Upper and Lower Bound Theorem for Real
Roots

If we use synthetic division If we use synthetic division

to divide by , where C, and
we obtain a third row
containing no negative
numbers, then is of
upper bound for the real
roots of
to divide by , where , and
we obtain a third row in
which the numbers are
alternately positive and
negative, then is of lower
bound for the real roots of
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𝑓 ( 𝑥 )= 𝑥 − 4
 1. Graph:
Step 1: Find the range
Determine the n and the
leading coefficient of the given
polynomial function.
 1. Graph:
Step 2: Find the roots/zeroes
apply factoring (then equate the factors to zero to find the roots)
or Rational Zero Theorem.
n = 2, , roots/zeroes are –2 and 2
 1. Graph:
Since n is even and the leading coefficient is
greater than 0 or positive, thus, the range of f is
[-4, ).
The graph is opening upward because is
positive.
 1. Graph:
Step 3: Graph the function
Plot the roots/zeroes as x-intercepts of the graph.
These values divide the number line into
intervals.
The intervals are (, -2), (-2, 2) and (2, )
 The table of values is shown below
Sample
Interval x-value in f(x) or y
the interval The points or ordered pairs
are, the x – intercepts (-2,
(, -2) -3 5 0), (2, 0) and the ordered
(-2, 2) 0 -4 pairs from the table (-3, 5),
(0, -4) and (3, 5).
() 3 5

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2. Graph:
Step 1: Find the range
Determine the n and the leading
coefficient of the given
polynomial function.
2. Graph:
Step 2: Find the roots/zeroes
The factored form of is (-x + 2)(x - 3),
hence the roots/zeros are 2 and 3.
n = 2 and
2. Graph:
Since n is even and the leading coefficient is
less than 0 or negative, thus the range of f is
(-, 0.25]. 
The graph is opening downward because is
negative.
2. Graph:
Step 3: Graph the function
Plot the roots/zeros as x-intercepts of the
graph. These values divide the number line
into intervals.
The intervals are (, 2), (2, 3) and (3, ).
 The table of values is shown below

Sample
Interval x-value in f(x) or y The points or ordered pairs
the interval are, the x – intercepts (2, 0),
(, 3) 2 0 (3, 0) and the ordered pairs
(2, 3) 2.5 0.25 from the table (2.5, 0.25)
() 4 -2 and (4, -2).

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3. Graph:
Step 1: Find the range
Determine the n and the leading
coefficient of the given polynomial
function.

Since n is odd the range of f is (-,).

3. Graph:
Step 2: Find the roots/zeroes
The factored form of is (x + 3)(x +1)(x - 1),
hence the roots/zeroes are – 3, -1 and 1.
3. Graph:
Step 3: Graph the function
Plot the roots/zeros as x-intercepts of the
graph. These values divide the number
line into intervals. The intervals are
(, -3), (-3, -1), (-1, ) and (1, ).
 The table of values is shown below

Sample The points or ordered pairs

Interval x-value in f(x) or y
are, the x – intercepts (-3,
the interval
(, -3) -4 -15 0), (-1, 0), (1, 0) and the
(- 3, - 1) -2 3 ordered pairs from the table
() 0 -3 (- 4, - 15), (-2, 3), (0, - 3)
(1, ) 2 15 and (2, 15).

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 YOUR TURN!
Find the roots/zeros of the given polynomial function and
determine its range. Then sketch.

𝒈 ( 𝒙 ) = 𝒙 𝟒 − 𝒙 𝟑 − 𝟏𝟏 𝒙 𝟐 +𝟗 𝒙 +𝟏𝟖

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 The rational roots are - 3 , - 1, 2, and 3.
𝒈 ( 𝒙 ) = 𝒙 𝟒 − 𝒙 𝟑 − 𝟏𝟏 𝒙 𝟐 +𝟗 𝒙 +𝟏𝟖

Interval Sample x-value y

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Find the roots of each function then determine its range.

1.

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Find the roots of each function then determine its range.

2.

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Find the roots of each function then determine its range.

3.

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Find the roots of each function then determine its range.

4.

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Find the roots of each function then determine its range.

5.

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 Sketch the graph of a 4th degree
polynomial function f(x) such that
and , and is increasing at extreme left.

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