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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

Three charges q_{1}=+3\mu C, q_{2}=+6\mu C and q_{3}=+8\mu C are located at (2,0)m (0,0)m and (0,3) coordinates respectively. Find the magnitude and direction acted upon q_{2} by the two other charges.Draw the correct graphical illustration of the problem above showing the direction of all forces.
Kate Reply
To solve this problem, we need to first find the net force acting on charge q_{2}. The magnitude of the force exerted by q_{1} on q_{2} is given by F=\frac{kq_{1}q_{2}}{r^{2}} where k is the Coulomb constant, q_{1} and q_{2} are the charges of the particles, and r is the distance between them.
Muhammed
What is the direction and net electric force on q_{1}= 5µC located at (0,4)r due to charges q_{2}=7mu located at (0,0)m and q_{3}=3\mu C located at (4,0)m?
Kate Reply
what is the change in momentum of a body?
Eunice Reply
what is a capacitor?
Raymond Reply
Capacitor is a separation of opposite charges using an insulator of very small dimension between them. Capacitor is used for allowing an AC (alternating current) to pass while a DC (direct current) is blocked.
Gautam
A motor travelling at 72km/m on sighting a stop sign applying the breaks such that under constant deaccelerate in the meters of 50 metres what is the magnitude of the accelerate
Maria Reply
please solve
Sharon
8m/s²
Aishat
What is Thermodynamics
Muordit
velocity can be 72 km/h in question. 72 km/h=20 m/s, v^2=2.a.x , 20^2=2.a.50, a=4 m/s^2.
Mehmet
A boat travels due east at a speed of 40meter per seconds across a river flowing due south at 30meter per seconds. what is the resultant speed of the boat
Saheed Reply
50 m/s due south east
Someone
which has a higher temperature, 1cup of boiling water or 1teapot of boiling water which can transfer more heat 1cup of boiling water or 1 teapot of boiling water explain your . answer
Ramon Reply
I believe temperature being an intensive property does not change for any amount of boiling water whereas heat being an extensive property changes with amount/size of the system.
Someone
Scratch that
Someone
temperature for any amount of water to boil at ntp is 100⁰C (it is a state function and and intensive property) and it depends both will give same amount of heat because the surface available for heat transfer is greater in case of the kettle as well as the heat stored in it but if you talk.....
Someone
about the amount of heat stored in the system then in that case since the mass of water in the kettle is greater so more energy is required to raise the temperature b/c more molecules of water are present in the kettle
Someone
definitely of physics
Haryormhidey Reply
how many start and codon
Esrael Reply
what is field
Felix Reply
physics, biology and chemistry this is my Field
ALIYU
field is a region of space under the influence of some physical properties
Collete
what is ogarnic chemistry
WISDOM Reply
determine the slope giving that 3y+ 2x-14=0
WISDOM
Another formula for Acceleration
Belty Reply
a=v/t. a=f/m a
IHUMA
innocent
Adah
pratica A on solution of hydro chloric acid,B is a solution containing 0.5000 mole ofsodium chlorid per dm³,put A in the burret and titrate 20.00 or 25.00cm³ portion of B using melting orange as the indicator. record the deside of your burret tabulate the burret reading and calculate the average volume of acid used?
Nassze Reply
how do lnternal energy measures
Esrael
Two bodies attract each other electrically. Do they both have to be charged? Answer the same question if the bodies repel one another.
JALLAH Reply
No. According to Isac Newtons law. this two bodies maybe you and the wall beside you. Attracting depends on the mass och each body and distance between them.
Dlovan
Are you really asking if two bodies have to be charged to be influenced by Coulombs Law?
Robert
like charges repel while unlike charges atttact
Raymond
What is specific heat capacity
Destiny Reply
Specific heat capacity is a measure of the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree Celsius (or Kelvin). It is measured in Joules per kilogram per degree Celsius (J/kg°C).
AI-Robot
specific heat capacity is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree Celsius or kelvin
ROKEEB
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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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