Polynomial Functions Unit Assignment

Question 1 (5 points)
Without graphing, answer the following questions for each of the functions below:

i. What are the end behaviors of this type of function (what quadrant does it begin and end in?)
ii. What are the maximum and the minimum number of x-intercepts for this type of function?
iii. What is the maximum and the minimum number of turns for this type of function?
iv. State if there are any restrictions on the domain and range on this type of function.

Function End Maximum Minimum Maximum Minimum Restrictions

Behaviors Number of Number of number number
x-intercepts x-intercepts of turns of turns

Start: 3rd 3 1 2 0 none

quadrant
End: 1st
quadrant

Start: 3rd 4 0 3 1 Range:

quadrant {
End: 4th y∨ y ≤ min. value ,Y ϵ R
quadrant }
Domain:
{ x∨X ϵ R }

Start: 3rd 5 1 4 0 none

quadrant
End: 1st
quadrant

Question 2 (6 points)
Using the graphs provided, determine the equation for the polynomial function being
represented. Show all of your work.

x-intercept: -3 and 2
Local minimum at x: -3
The function behaves quadratic at x = -3 therefore the term (x+3) is second order.
At x = 2 the function behaves as a cubic function, therefore the term (x-2) is third order.
The function starts at the 2nd quadrant and ends in the 4th quadrant, and it has 3 turning points,
therefore it must be a degree 5 polynomial.
So, the function must have
+3
x¿
¿
−2
x¿
¿
f ( x)=k ¿

Replacing a value of the Y-intercept: y = 18

3
¿
¿
−2
¿
¿
18=k ¿
k =−1/4
2
x−¿
¿
−1
f ( x)= (x+ 3)❑2 ¿
4

y-intercept: 36
The function has a double root at x=2 and x=-3
−2 +3
So, the equation must have a factor of x ¿ and x ¿
¿ ¿
¿ ¿
At x=-3 the function behaves as quadratic, so the factor (x+3) is second order.

The function starts in the 2nd quadrant and ends in the 4th quadrant and the function has 2
turns, the function must have odd power, therefore it must be degree 3.The equation of the

−2
x¿
¿
function must be of the form +3
x¿
¿
f ( x)=k ¿
Putting x=0
18=k ·(−2) ⋅9
k =−1
−2
x¿
¿
The equation of the function is f ( x)=¿ +3
x¿
¿
−¿

Question 3 (6 points)
Using the table of values given, determine the equation of the function that would model this
data.

First, I looked for the degree by subtracting the second f(x) with the first f(x).
x f ( x) Δ
1
Δ
2
Δ
3

1 36 -36 4 6

2 0 -32 10 6
3 -32 -22 16 6

4 -54 -6 22

5 -60 16

6 -44

So, it is a polynomial function with a degree of 3 with the form: ax 3 +bx 2+ cx+ d=f ( x) .
Now, taking values from the table, we have a system of equations.
a(1)3 +b( 1)2 +c (1)+ d=36
a(2)3 +b (2)2 +c (2)+d=0
a( 3)3 +b (3)2+ c( 3)+ d=−32
a( 4)3 +b (4)2 +c ( 4)+d=−54

a+b❑ + c+ d=36
8 a+ 4 b+2 c +d =0
27 a+ 9b +3 c+ d=−32
❑
64 a +16 b+4 c+ d=−54

Elimination Method:
a=1
b=-4
c=-31
d=70

3 2
ANSWER :f ( x)=x ❑ −4 x ❑ −31 x +70

Question 4 (4 points)
Determine if the following polynomial functions have even or odd symmetry, or neither. Justify
your reasoning.

The polynomial function is neither, because f (−x ) ≠ −f ( x ) .

3
f (−x )=−(−x ) ❑ + 8(−x)+12
3
f (−x )=¿ x −8 x+ 12
¿ 3
f (−x )=−¿ x + 8 x −12¿
f (−x ) ≠ −f ( x )

The polynomial function is even, because f (−x ) ¿f (x) .

4 8
f (−x)=3(−x) −7 (−x)❑
4 8
f (−x)=3 x −7 x ❑
3x
f (−x)=(¿ ¿ 4−7 x❑8 )
¿
f (−x)=f (x )❑

This polynomial function is odd, because f (−x ) ¿−f ( x ) .

5 3
f (−x )=1 /2(−x) ❑ +1 /3 (−x)❑
f (−x )=−1/2 x ❑ −1/3❑3
5

f (−x )=−(−1/2 x ❑5−1/3 ❑3 )

f (−x )=−f (x )

This polynomial function is odd, because f (−x ) ¿−f ( x ) .

3
f (−x )=2(−x)❑ +(−x )/2
3
f (−x )=−2 x ❑ −x / 2
f (−x )=−(2 x ❑3 + x /2)
f (−x )=−f (x )
Question 5 (6 points)
Factor each of these polynomial functions completely. Show all of your work.

I graphed the equation, and I was able to observe the x-intercepts: -2, and 3.
So, I calculated to find the third value that would allow the factoring to be made for the
polynomial function.
Answer :f (x)=( x+ 2)(x−3)(−x−2)

I graphed the equation, and I was able to observe the x-intercepts: -3, -0.5, and 1.
Answer: ( f (x)=( x+ 3)( 2 x +1)(x−1)
I graphed the equation, and I was able to observe the x-intercepts: -4, -1.5, 1, and 3.
Answer: f (x)=(x+ 4)(2 x +3)(x−1)( x−3)

Question 6 (8 points)
Using what you have learned in this unit, solve the following problem:

radius = r
height = (r−3)❑2
Volume = π r ❑2 (h)=π r ❑2 (r −3)❑2=16 π
We can divide by pi and subtract 16 of both sides of the equation and write it as:
r ❑2 (r−3)❑2−16 = 0
The radius that satisfies this equation can be found with the factor theorem:
4 3 2
r ❑ −12r ❑ +36 r ❑ −49 = 0
r
(r +1)(r−7)( ¿¿ 2−6 r +7) = 0
¿
r−(3+ √ 2)=0
¿
r −(3−√ 2) ¿
( r +1)(r−7) ¿
¿

Therefore we can conclude that the four solutions to the problem are:
2
r=7 h=(7−3)❑ =16
r=3−√ 2h=( 3−√ 2−3)❑2=4
 r=3+ √ 2 h=(3+ √ 2−3)❑2=4

In conclusion, the company should make cylindrical cans with a radius of 7cm, 3−√ 2
cm, or 3−√ 2 cm. However, in a real-life situation, it is impossible to measure a radius of
irrational numbers, that is why even though we have two irrational solutions the company would
design cans with a 7cm radius, a real number that can be obtained with industrial machinery.

Question 7 (5 points)
The thickness of the ice on a lake for one week is modeled by the function:

Where T is the thickness in cm and d is the number of days after December 31st.

D: {x∨0 ≤ d ≤ 7, D ∈ R}
R :{ y∨8.5 ≤ T ≤ 14.8,T ∈ R }

I think the warmest day would be 9 days after December 31st. This is because the warmest
day would be the day when the thickness of ice is at its lowest. Therefore, when the thickness
Of the ice is at 0 cm, the time is 9 days since there is no ice at all.

The average rate of change:

ΔT
=
Δd
11.5−14.8
=
1−0
ANSWER = −3.3

We can find the instantaneous rate of change easily with the help of calculus, by finding the
derivative of the polynomial function.
T (d)=−0.1 d 3+ 1.2d 2−4.4 d +14.8
T (1.0001)=−0.1(1.0001)3 +1.2(1.0001)2−4.4 (1.0001)+14.8
T (1.0001)=11.49977001
T (0.9999)=−0.1(0.9999)3 +1.2(0.9999)2−4.4(0.9999)+14.8
T (0.9999)=11.50023001
Instant Rate of Change:
T (1.0001)−T (0.9999)
=
1.0001−0.9999
11.49977001−11.50023001
=
0.0002
ANSWER = −2.3

The rates calculated in a) and b) are different because for the rate for (a) I got -3.3 and the rate
for (b) I got -2.3. Therefore, they are different because the average rate is calculating the
change in concentration over a selected period of time and the instantaneous rate is calculating
the rate at a particular time. Above, you can see the graph for the equation:
3 2
T (d)=−0.1 d + 1.2d −4.4 d +14.8 .