Polynomial
Function
A polynomial function is a function defined by a polynomial
expression. It is of the form
f(x) = + + + . . .+ + x +
where , , , . . . are real numbers and ≠ 0.
is called the leading term
is called the leading coefficient
n is degree
is called the constant term
Function Notation :
f (x) = 3x + 4
Output
Name of the Input (range)
function (domain
)
We can also use other letters or symbols for the name of the function
such as
g(x), h(x), A(r), V(r), p(x), f(a), etc.
The given function of x can be
written as
y = 3x + 4
Example:
Differentiate a polynomial function from a
polynomial expression and a polynomial equation.
3x³ + 5x² - 7x + 2 Polynomial
ExpressionEquation
3x³ + 5x² - 7x = 2 Polynomial
f(x) = 3x³ + 5x² - 7x + Polynomial
2 Function
Remember: The function notation f(x) = y.
Determine if the given is a polynomial expression, a
polynomial equation or a polynomial function
1. p(x) = 2x² + 4x – Polynomial
Function
Polynomial
2. 2x² - 9x⁴ + 7x – 3 Equation
½
Polynomial
=0 Expression
Polynomial
3. 5x⁶ + x - 9x²Equation
Polynomial
4. ¾ x = 12 Function
5. y = 3x + 10
A. Determine if the given is a polynomial expression,
polynomial equation or a polynomial function
6. A(r) = 𝞹r² Polynomial
7. 3x⁴ + 7y =Function
4 Polynomial
8. 2 Function
Polynomial Expression
9. x = x² - 12
Polynomial Equation
10. 2x² - x + 8 = q(x) Polynomial
Function
B. Complete the table below:
Leading
Polynomial Function Standard Form Degree Coefficie Constan
nt t Term
1. f(x) =-⅔x³ +2x - 7x² + 8x⁵
+3x⁴ + 1
f(x) = 8x⁵ +3x⁴ -⅔x³ - 7x² 5 8 1
+2x + 1
2. g(x) = -¾x⁴ + 2x² + ⅘x –3 g(x) = -¾x⁴ + 2x² + ⅘x 4 -¾ -
–3 3
3. y = 5x⁶ + x - 9x² y = 5x⁶ - 9x² + x 6 5 0
It’s your turn !
A. Determine if the given is a polynomial
expression, a polynomial equation or a polynomial
function.
1. f(x)= 7x² - 5x⁴ - ⅘ + 4x
2. 3x⁷ = - 5x⁴ + 8x³ - 5x⁶ + - 9x²
3. y = -⅜x³ +10x - 9x² + ⅗x⁵ +7x⁴
4. g(x)= x³ - 2x² + x⁵ + x⁹ + 𝞹
5. p(x)=4x³ +10x - 6x² - x⁵ +2x⁴
6. 3x⁷ - 5x⁴ + 8x + 6
B. Based on Activity A, complete the table below:
Leading
Polynomial Function Standard Form Degree Coefficie Constan
nt t Term
Zeros of the Polynomial Function
a polynomial P(x), any number c in the
Given
domain of P(x) is called a zero of P(x) if P(c) = 0.
Thezeros of P(x) are the roots or solutions of the
polynomial equation P(x) = 0.
Examples:
Find the rational zeros of each of the following
P(x) = 3x - Given (Linear
9 Function)
Change P(x) to zero
0 = 3x - Solve for x
9
9=
3xTherefore, 3 is the zero of P(x) =
3x -9 3 = x
y = x² – 5x – 6 Given (Quadratic
Function)
0 = x² – 5x – 6 Change y to zero.
0 = (x – 6)(x + 1)
Solve for x.
x–6=0 x+1=0
x=6 x = –1
Therefore, the zeros of y = x² – 5x – 6 are
{ –1, 6 } .
f(x) = (x – 4)(x – 2)(x Given (Cubic Function)
+1)
0 = (x – 4)(x – 2)(x +1) Change f(x) to zero.
Solve for x.
x–4=0 x – 2=0 x
+1=0
x=4 x=2
x= –1
Therefore, the zeros of f(x) = (x – 4)(x – 2)(x
+1)
are { –1, 2, 4} .
f(x) = 4x⁴ +5x³ – 22x² – 20x + 24 Given (Quartic
Function)
Rational Zero Theorem:
If the polynomial function f(x) = + + + . . .+ x + has integer
coefficients, then every rational zero of f(x) is of the form ( in lowest
terms), where p is a factor of constant term and q is a factor of the
leading coefficient .
f(x) = 4x⁴ +5x³ – 22x² – 20x + 24 Given (Quartic
Function)
The leading coefficient is 4 and the constant term is
24. The factors of 24 are ±1, ±2, ±3, ±4, ±6, ±8, ±12,
±24, and the factors of 4 are ±1, ± 2 ±4, . Thus, the
possible rational zeros are
±±±,±,±,±,±,±,±±±,±,±,±,
±,±,±±,±,±,±,±,±,±
Simplifying the fractions and eliminating the
duplicates, the possible rational zeros are
f(x) = 4x⁴ +5x³ – 22x² – 20x + 24 Given (Quartic
Function)
Possible rational
zeros
±±±,±,±,±,±,±,±±±,±,±,±,
±,±,±±,±,±,±,±,±,±
Simplifying the fractions and eliminating the
duplicates, the possible rational zeros are
±,±, ±, ±,
1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24,
± ± ± ± ± ± ± ±
f(x) = 4x⁴ +5x³ – 22x² – 20x + 24 Given (Quartic
Function)
Possible rational
zeros
±1± 2, ±3, ±4, ±6, ±8, ±12, ±24, ± ± , ± ±
Use synthetic division to find the real/actual zeros of
the function
–1 4 5 -22 -20 - 2 4 5 -22 -20 -24
24 -4 -1 8 26
23 -3 8 24
4 1 - 23 3 4 13 4 -12
Since the remainder is
-27 0
zero,
2 is a zero of the
-2 4 13 4 - 4x² +5x – 6 = 0
12 (4x - 3) (x + 2) =
-8 -10 12 4x0– 3 = 0 x+2=0
-2 is a zero of x= x=
f(x)4 5 -6 0 –2
Thus,
f(x) = 4x⁴ +5x³ – 22x² – 20x + 24
0 = 4x⁴ +5x³ – 22x² – 20x + 24
0 = (x – 2) (x + 2) (4x - 3) (x + 2)
Therefore, the zeros of f(x) = 4x⁴ +5x³ – 22x ² –
20x + 24 are {-2 of multiplicity 2, , 2 }.
y = 2(x + 3)(x + 2)³ (x-1)⁴
0 = 2 (x + 3)(x+2)(x +2)(x +2)(x-1)(x-1)(x-1)(x-1)
Leading term: 2x⁸
Degree: 8
Leading coefficient: 2
Constant term: 48
Zeros of the function: { -3, - 2 of multiplicity 3, 1 of
multiplicity 4}
Application:
Find the zeros of each of the following:
1. y = (x+ 1 )(2x² - 7x - 4)
2. f(x) = 2x(x - 3)²(x +1)⁴(x + 2)⁵
3. P(x) = 6x³ - 23x² - 6x + 8
4. g(x) = x⁴ -6x³- x² + 54x – 72
5. h(x) = 4x⁵ + 4x⁴ -25x³ -25x² +36x +36
Thank you !
