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Comparing smooth and continuous graphs

The degree of a polynomial function helps us to determine the number of x -intercepts and the number of turning points. A polynomial function of n th degree is the product of n factors, so it will have at most n roots or zeros, or x -intercepts. The graph of the polynomial function of degree n must have at most n 1 turning points. This means the graph has at most one fewer turning point than the degree of the polynomial or one fewer than the number of factors.

A continuous function    has no breaks in its graph: the graph can be drawn without lifting the pen from the paper. A smooth curve    is a graph that has no sharp corners. The turning points of a smooth graph must always occur at rounded curves. The graphs of polynomial functions are both continuous and smooth.

Intercepts and turning points of polynomials

A polynomial of degree n will have, at most, n x -intercepts and n 1 turning points.

Determining the number of intercepts and turning points of a polynomial

Without graphing the function, determine the local behavior of the function by finding the maximum number of x -intercepts and turning points for f ( x ) = 3 x 10 + 4 x 7 x 4 + 2 x 3 .

The polynomial has a degree of 10 , so there are at most 10 x -intercepts and at most 9 turning points.

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Without graphing the function, determine the maximum number of x -intercepts and turning points for f ( x ) = 108 13 x 9 8 x 4 + 14 x 12 + 2 x 3 .

There are at most 12 x - intercepts and at most 11 turning points.

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Drawing conclusions about a polynomial function from the graph

What can we conclude about the polynomial represented by the graph shown in [link] based on its intercepts and turning points?

Graph of an even-degree polynomial.

The end behavior of the graph tells us this is the graph of an even-degree polynomial. See [link] .

Graph of an even-degree polynomial that denotes the turning points and intercepts.

The graph has 2 x -intercepts, suggesting a degree of 2 or greater, and 3 turning points, suggesting a degree of 4 or greater. Based on this, it would be reasonable to conclude that the degree is even and at least 4.

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What can we conclude about the polynomial represented by the graph shown in [link] based on its intercepts and turning points?

Graph of an odd-degree polynomial.

The end behavior indicates an odd-degree polynomial function; there are 3 x - intercepts and 2 turning points, so the degree is odd and at least 3. Because of the end behavior, we know that the lead coefficient must be negative.

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Drawing conclusions about a polynomial function from the factors

Given the function f ( x ) = 4 x ( x + 3 ) ( x 4 ) , determine the local behavior.

The y -intercept is found by evaluating f ( 0 ) .

f ( 0 ) = 4 ( 0 ) ( 0 + 3 ) ( 0 4 = 0

The y -intercept is ( 0 , 0 ) .

The x -intercepts are found by determining the zeros of the function.

0 = −4 x ( x + 3 ) ( x 4 )
x = 0 or x + 3 = 0 or x 4 = 0 x = 0 or x = 3 or x = 4

The x -intercepts are ( 0 , 0 ) , ( –3 , 0 ) , and ( 4 , 0 ) .

The degree is 3 so the graph has at most 2 turning points.

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Given the function f ( x ) = 0.2 ( x 2 ) ( x + 1 ) ( x 5 ) , determine the local behavior.

The x - intercepts are ( 2 , 0 ) , ( 1 , 0 ) , and ( 5 , 0 ) , the y- intercept is ( 0 , 2 ) , and the graph has at most 2 turning points.

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Questions & Answers

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When MP₁ becomes negative, TP start to decline. Extuples Suppose that the short-run production function of certain cut-flower firm is given by: Q=4KL-0.6K2 - 0.112 • Where is quantity of cut flower produced, I is labour input and K is fixed capital input (K-5). Determine the average product of lab
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Quantity demanded refers to the specific amount of a good or service that consumers are willing and able to purchase at a give price and within a specific time period. Demand, on the other hand, is a broader concept that encompasses the entire relationship between price and quantity demanded
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Economic growth as an increase in the production and consumption of goods and services within an economy.but Economic development as a broader concept that encompasses not only economic growth but also social & human well being.
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In economics, the contract curve refers to the set of points in an Edgeworth box diagram where both parties involved in a trade cannot be made better off without making one of them worse off. It represents the Pareto efficient allocations of goods between two individuals or entities, where neither p
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In economics, the contract curve refers to the set of points in an Edgeworth box diagram where both parties involved in a trade cannot be made better off without making one of them worse off. It represents the Pareto efficient allocations of goods between two individuals or entities,
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Suppose a consumer consuming two commodities X and Y has The following utility function u=X0.4 Y0.6. If the price of the X and Y are 2 and 3 respectively and income Constraint is birr 50. A,Calculate quantities of x and y which maximize utility. B,Calculate value of Lagrange multiplier. C,Calculate quantities of X and Y consumed with a given price. D,alculate optimum level of output .
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suppose the production function is given by ( L, K)=L¼K¾.assuming capital is fixed find APL and MPL. consider the following short run production function:Q=6L²-0.4L³ a) find the value of L that maximizes output b)find the value of L that maximizes marginal product
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Source:  OpenStax, Algebra and trigonometry. OpenStax CNX. Nov 14, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11758/1.6
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