Polynomials and Polynomial Functions

Definitions
Term: a number or a product of a number and variables raised
to a power.
3, 5 x ,  2 x, 9 x y
2 2

Coefficient: the numerical factor of each term.

5 x 2 ,  2 x, 9 x 2 y
Constant: the term without a variable.
3,  6, 5, 32
Polynomial: a finite sum of terms of the form axn, where a is a
real number and n is a whole number.
15 x  2 x  5
3 2 21 y 6  7 y 5  2 y 3  6 y
Remember integers are … –2, -1, 0, 1, 2 … (no decimals
or fractions) so positive integers would be 0, 1, 2 …

A polynomial function is a function of the form:

n must be a positive integer

f x   an x  an 1 x
n n 1
   a1 x  ao

All of these coefficients are real numbers

The degree of the polynomial is the largest

power on any x term in the polynomial.
 Polynomials and Polynomial Functions
Practice Problems
Identify the degrees of each term and the degree of the
polynomial.

5x  4 x  5x
3 2

3 2 1 6 8 3 0
3 8

9 10 6 2
10
Determine which of the following are polynomial
functions. If the function is a polynomial, state its
degree.
f x   2 x  x
4
A polynomial of degree 4.
We can write in an x0 since this = 1.

g x   2 x 0 A polynomial of degree 0.
Not a polynomial because of the

h x   2 x  1
square root since the power is NOT
an integer 1
x  x2
3
F x    x 2 Not a polynomial because of the x in
the denominator since the power is
x negative 1 1
x
x
Polynomials and Polynomial Functions
Practice Problems
Evaluate each polynomial function
f x   3 x 2  10 f  1

3  1  10  3 1  10  3  10  7
2

g  y   6 y 2  11 y  20 g 3

6 3  113  20  6  9  33  20 
2

54  33  20  87  20  67
Practice Problems
Simplify each sum and find the coefficient of
given term in the bracket

Remember
Use a zero as a placeholder for the
“missing” term.

Word Problem
 Graphs of polynomials are smooth and continuous.
No sharp corners or cusps No gaps or holes, can be drawn
without lifting pencil from paper

This IS the graph This IS NOT the graph

of a polynomial
of a polynomial
 Let’s look at the graph of f x   x n
where n is an
even integer.
g x   x 4 h x   x 6

and grows
f x   x 2
steeper on either
side

Notice each graph

looks similar to x2 The higher the
but is wider and power, the flatter
flatter near the and steeper
origin between –1
and 1
 Let’s look at the graph of f x   x n
where n is an
odd integer.

Notice each graph and grows

looks similar to x3 steeper on
but is wider and either side
flatter near the g x   x 5
origin between –1
h x   x 7
and 1

f x   x 3
The higher the
power, the flatter
and steeper
Let’s graph f x    x  2
4
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