GRAPHS of POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS

A polynomial function is a function where each power is a

nonnegative integer and each coefficient is a real number. The

polynomial has a leading coefficient an and degree n.

Polynomials can be written in standard form or factored form.

2
3 1342 314

fCx 3 1 1 g X
3 14256

degree 3 degree b x3is x x3t2t

Graphs of polynomial functions is a continuous smooth curve

Not polynomial not polynomial polynomial

y

y
continuous y

not x

sharp

corners

End Behavior

Polynomials EVEN DEGREE ODD DEGREE

with Same direction

e.g. y 5 x 2 e.g. y 3 x3

POSITIVE
leading r ii r

coefficient

an 0
in i i
k

e.g. y 2 x 4 3x3 1 e.g. y 4 x5 7 x 4 1

NEGATIVE

leading i't i f

coefficient
i t wi
t b

an 0
i

Middle behavior

The shape of the graph near a zero (solution, root, x-intercept) is

determined by the power (multiplicity) of each factor.

If your polynomial contains a factor of

( x c) ( x c) 2 ( x c )3

the graph should behave like

at

thru

Ex 1) Sketch the graph of the polynomial function

3 2
f x x 3 2 x x 4 .
How did you determine end behavior? t t
How did you determine middle behavior?
How could you easily check your answer? calc
graph
or int
y 2
3 2K 4
f o
positive

ep
Ex 2) Write a polynomial function for the graph below.
y

check y int
2
4223C 1
4
f co
negative

yep
Ex 3) Write TWO polynomial functions in standard form of
degree 3 that have 1, 2, and -2 as their zeros.

multiple of an
Any works because
equation
becomes a
a multiple

vertical stretch

3 2
28
x 7 7 28
g 2
h Cx 2x 72 8 8
Ex 4) Write a polynomial equation whose graph has x-intercepts
of 2 and -3 and a y-intercept of 5.
Need vertical stretch ftp
fCx x 2 Xt 3 1.1 so need a multiple
6 ex't X G
X2tX 6
gL
a

O a 070 6
Current yint g
5 6 a
fCo Oto 6 6
I a

i
change