<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >

Key equations

general form of a polynomial function f ( x ) = a n x n + ... + a 2 x 2 + a 1 x + a 0

Key concepts

  • A power function is a variable base raised to a number power. See [link] .
  • The behavior of a graph as the input decreases beyond bound and increases beyond bound is called the end behavior.
  • The end behavior depends on whether the power is even or odd. See [link] and [link] .
  • A polynomial function is the sum of terms, each of which consists of a transformed power function with positive whole number power. See [link] .
  • The degree of a polynomial function is the highest power of the variable that occurs in a polynomial. The term containing the highest power of the variable is called the leading term. The coefficient of the leading term is called the leading coefficient. See [link] .
  • The end behavior of a polynomial function is the same as the end behavior of the power function represented by the leading term of the function. See [link] and [link] .
  • A polynomial of degree n will have at most n x- intercepts and at most n 1 turning points. See [link] , [link] , [link] , [link] , and [link] .

Section exercises

Verbal

Explain the difference between the coefficient of a power function and its degree.

The coefficient of the power function is the real number that is multiplied by the variable raised to a power. The degree is the highest power appearing in the function.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

If a polynomial function is in factored form, what would be a good first step in order to determine the degree of the function?

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

In general, explain the end behavior of a power function with odd degree if the leading coefficient is positive.

As x decreases without bound, so does f ( x ) . As x increases without bound, so does f ( x ) .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

What is the relationship between the degree of a polynomial function and the maximum number of turning points in its graph?

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

What can we conclude if, in general, the graph of a polynomial function exhibits the following end behavior? As x , f ( x ) and as x , f ( x ) .

The polynomial function is of even degree and leading coefficient is negative.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Algebraic

For the following exercises, identify the function as a power function, a polynomial function, or neither.

f ( x ) = ( x 2 ) 3

Power function

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

f ( x ) = x 2 x 2 1

Neither

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

f ( x ) = 2 x ( x + 2 ) ( x 1 ) 2

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

f ( x ) = 3 x + 1

Neither

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

For the following exercises, find the degree and leading coefficient for the given polynomial.

7 2 x 2

Degree = 2, Coefficient = –2

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

2 x 2 3 x 5 + x 6  

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

x ( 4 x 2 ) ( 2 x + 1 )

Degree =4, Coefficient = –2

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

For the following exercises, determine the end behavior of the functions.

f ( x ) = x 4

As x , f ( x ) , as x , f ( x )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

f ( x ) = x 4

As x , f ( x ) , as x , f ( x )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

f ( x ) = 2 x 4 3 x 2 + x 1  

As x , f ( x ) , as x , f ( x )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

f ( x ) = 3 x 2 + x 2

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

f ( x ) = x 2 ( 2 x 3 x + 1 )

As x , f ( x ) , as x , f ( x )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

For the following exercises, find the intercepts of the functions.

f ( t ) = 2 ( t 1 ) ( t + 2 ) ( t 3 )

y -intercept is ( 0 , 12 ) , t -intercepts are ( 1 , 0 ) ; ( 2 , 0 ) ; and  ( 3 , 0 ) .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

g ( n ) = −2 ( 3 n 1 ) ( 2 n + 1 )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

f ( x ) = x 4 16

y -intercept is ( 0 , 16 ) . x -intercepts are ( 2 , 0 ) and ( 2 , 0 ) .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

f ( x ) = x ( x 2 2 x 8 )

y -intercept is ( 0 , 0 ) . x -intercepts are ( 0 , 0 ) , ( 4 , 0 ) , and ( 2 ,   0 ) .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

f ( x ) = ( x + 3 ) ( 4 x 2 1 )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Graphical

For the following exercises, determine the least possible degree of the polynomial function shown.

Questions & Answers

Why is b in the answer
Dahsolar Reply
how do you work it out?
Brad Reply
answer
Ernest
heheheehe
Nitin
(Pcos∅+qsin∅)/(pcos∅-psin∅)
John Reply
how to do that?
Rosemary Reply
what is it about?
Amoah
how to answer the activity
Chabelita Reply
how to solve the activity
Chabelita
solve for X,,4^X-6(2^)-16=0
Alieu Reply
x4xminus 2
Lominate
sobhan Singh jina uniwarcity tignomatry ka long answers tile questions
harish Reply
t he silly nut company makes two mixtures of nuts: mixture a and mixture b. a pound of mixture a contains 12 oz of peanuts, 3 oz of almonds and 1 oz of cashews and sells for $4. a pound of mixture b contains 12 oz of peanuts, 2 oz of almonds and 2 oz of cashews and sells for $5. the company has 1080
ZAHRO Reply
If  , , are the roots of the equation 3 2 0, x px qx r     Find the value of 1  .
Swetha Reply
Parts of a pole were painted red, blue and yellow. 3/5 of the pole was red and 7/8 was painted blue. What part was painted yellow?
Patrick Reply
Parts of the pole was painted red, blue and yellow. 3 /5 of the pole was red and 7 /8 was painted blue. What part was painted yellow?
Patrick
how I can simplify algebraic expressions
Katleho Reply
Lairene and Mae are joking that their combined ages equal Sam’s age. If Lairene is twice Mae’s age and Sam is 69 yrs old, what are Lairene’s and Mae’s ages?
Mary Reply
23yrs
Yeboah
lairenea's age is 23yrs
ACKA
hy
Katleho
Ello everyone
Katleho
Laurene is 46 yrs and Mae is 23 is
Solomon
hey people
christopher
age does not matter
christopher
solve for X, 4^x-6(2*)-16=0
Alieu
prove`x^3-3x-2cosA=0 (-π<A<=π
Mayank Reply
create a lesson plan about this lesson
Rose Reply
Excusme but what are you wrot?

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, Algebra and trigonometry. OpenStax CNX. Nov 14, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11758/1.6
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'Algebra and trigonometry' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask