Lesson 3: Equations and Graphs
of Polynomial Functions
LEARNING GOALS:
•Terminology: Factored form, Factors, Zeros, Roots, Order, Test
values
•What is the connection between the equation of a
polynomial function and it’s graph? (order of factors, degree
of factors, intercepts, leading coefficient)
SUCCESS CRITERIA:
•I understand the terminology for this lesson
•I can use the information to sketch the graph.
1) SOME TERMINOLOGY
Factored form of a polynomial:
The polynomial is written in it’s factors, for example
this polynomial has three factors, which are circled:
y = (x − 3)(x + 2)(x +1)
€
1) SOME TERMINOLOGY
Zeros, and roots of a polynomial:
This polynomial, when f(x) = 0, has three solutions, x =
3, x = -2 and x = -1. These are the zeros, or roots.
f (x) = (x − 3)(x + 2)(x +1)
The zeros correspond to the x-intercepts of the
function.
€
1) SOME TERMINOLOGY
x-intercepts:
The x-coordinate(s) of a point where a line,
curve, or surface intersects the x-axis.
y-intercepts:
The y-coordinate(s) of a point where a line,
curve, or surface intersects the y-axis.
1) SOME TERMINOLOGY
Order of the factor: The exponent of each factor.
This polynomial has three factors of order 1:
f (x) = (x − 3)(x + 2)(x +1)
This polynomial has one factor of order 2 and one
factor of order 1:
€
2
f (x) = (x − 3) (x + 2)
Order of the factors:
f (x) = (x −1) 2 (x + 2)
If the order If the order
is odd, the is even, the
function function
changes sign does not
at the x- change sign
intercept the x-
intercept
Order of the factors-> Shape of graph:
f (x) = (x −1) 2 (x + 2)
If the order If the order
is 1, it looks is order 2,
like a the
straight line function
at the x- looks like a
intercept parabola.
Order of the factors-> Shape of graph:
f (x) = (x −1) 4 (x + 2) 3
If the order If the order
is 3 the is order 4,
function the
looks like function
y = x3 at the looks like
x-intercept flattened a
parabola
like y = x4.
Degree of the function:
To find the degree of the
polynomial, add the
exponents of the factors.
For Example:
2 1
f (x) = (x −1) (x + 2)
2+1 = 3.
This polynomial is of degree 3, and is cubic.
How do you sketch a function in factored
form?
For Example: f (x) = −2(x −1) (x + 2)
2 1
Step 1: Find the x-intercepts by looking at
what makes each factor equal to zero.
€
x-intercepts are: 1, and − 2
€
How do you sketch a function in factored
form?
For Example: f (x) = −2(x −1) (x + 2)
2 1
Step 1: Find the x-intercepts by looking at
what makes each factor equal to zero.
€
x-intercepts are: 1, and − 2
Step 2: Calculate the y-intercept(s) by
letting x = 0: 2 1
€f (x) = −2(0 −1) (0 + 2)
= −2(1)(2) = −4
y-intercept is: −4
Step 3: Divide the graph into intervals based
on the location of the x-intercepts.
x = −2 x =1
€ €
Step 4: Mark the location of the y-intercept
2 1
f (x) = −2((−3) −1) ((−3) + 2)
(0,−4)
= positive
€ f (x) = −2((2) −1) 2 ((2) + 2)1
= negative
f (x) = −2((0) −1) 2 ((0) + 2)1
= negative
Step 5: Using test values, find sign of the
function within each interval:
- -
Step 6: Find the degree of the function by
adding all the exponents of the factors.
For: f (x) = −2(x −1) (x + 2)
2 1
Degree is: 2+1=3, therefore it is a cubic function
€
Step 6: Find the degree of the function by
adding all the exponents of the factors.
For: f (x) = −2(x −1) (x + 2)
2 1
Degree is: 2+1=3, therefore it is a cubic function
€
Step 7: Find the leading coefficient by
multiplying all the x-coefficients.
2
−2(1) (1) = −2
Leading coefficient = -2
Step 8: From the degree and sign of the
leading coefficient, determine the end
behaviour of the function:
DEGREE SIGN of Leading Similar to Power End Behaviour
Coefficient Function? As x increases
EVEN Positive (+) f (x) = x 2 Quadrant 2 Quadrant 1
EVEN Negative (-) f (x) = −x 2 Quadrant 3 Quadrant 4
ODD Positive (+) Quadrant 3 Quadrant 1
f (x) = x 3
ODD Negative (-)
€ f (x) = −x 3 Quadrant 2 Quadrant 4
€
2 1
For Example:€ f (x) = −2(x −1) (x + 2)
Degree is 3, €
(odd) and leading coefficient
is
negative. Therefore end behaviour is Q2Q4
Step 9: Identify the order of each factor.
Whether the order is odd, or even and it’s
appearance when it crosses the x-axis
ORDER X-axis Looks Similar to which power
Function?
1 Crosses Linear
2 Does not Cross Quadratic
3 Crosses Cubic
4 Does not Cross Quartic
For Example: f (x) = −2(x −1) (x + 2)
2 1
One factor has order 2 (does not cross at x =1)
One factor has order 1 (crosses at x = -2)
END BEHAVIOUR
Put it together:
Starts here in Q2
+ X-intercept at 1. Factor is order 2,
so looks quadratic here. Does not
cross the x-axis
X-intercept at -2, Factor
is order 1, so looks linear
here. Crosses the x-axis.
+-
- -
y-intercept
END BEHAVIOUR
Ends here in Q4
END BEHAVIOUR
Starts here in Q2
Make the Final Sketch:
+ X-intercept at 1. Factor is order 2,
so looks quadratic here. Does not
cross the x-axis
X-intercept at -2, Factor
is order 1, so looks linear
here. Crosses the x-axis.
+-
- -
y-intercept
END BEHAVIOUR
Ends here in Q4
SYMMETRY
EVEN FUNCTIONS ODD FUNCTIONS
If the function is even, the If the function is odd, the
exponents of each term is exponents of each term is
even. odd.
For all values of x: For all values of x:
f (−x) = f (x) f (−x) = − f (x)
Symmetric about the Rotationally symmetric
y-axis about the origin
€
LIST OF LESSON 3 TERMINOLOGY
•Factored form
•Factors
•Zeros
•Roots
•Order
•Test values
QUIZLET, UNIT 1: Polynomial Functions
