Polynomial Functions

and their Graphs

Based from the video that you
have watched, let’s determine
the following.
 Try this!

p(x) = 2x5 + 5x4 – 3x3 + x2 – x + 6

Degree of polynomial:
Constant Term:
Leading term:
Leading coefficient:
 Example

p(x) = 2x5 + 5x4 – 3x3 + x2 – x + 6

Degree of polynomial: 5
Constant Term:
Leading term:
Leading coefficient:
 Example

p(x) = 2x5 + 5x4 – 3x3 + x2 – x + 6

Degree of polynomial: 5
Constant Term: 6
Leading term:
Leading coefficient:
 Example

p(x) = 2x5 + 5x4 – 3x3 + x2 – x + 6

Degree of polynomial: 5
Constant Term: 6
Leading term: 2x5
Leading coefficient:
 Example

p(x) = 2x5 + 5x4 – 3x3 + x2 – x + 6

Degree of polynomial: 5
Constant Term: 6
Leading term: 2x5
Leading coefficient: How about this? It is the numerical
coefficient of the leading term. What is it?
 Example

p(x) = 2x5 + 5x4 – 3x3 + x2 – x + 6

Degree of polynomial: 5
Constant Term: 6
Leading term: 2x5
Leading coefficient: 2
 Let’s try another one!

p(x) = – 9x3+ 3x2 – 15x – 8

Degree of polynomial:
Constant Term:
Leading term:
Leading coefficient:
 Example

p(x) = – 9x3+ 3x2 – 15x – 8

Degree of polynomial: 3
Constant Term:
Leading term:
Leading coefficient:
 Example

p(x) = – 9x3+ 3x2 – 15x – 8

Degree of polynomial: 3
Constant Term: -8
Leading term:
Leading coefficient:
 Example

p(x) = – 9x3+ 3x2 – 15x – 8

Degree of polynomial: 3
Constant Term: -8
Leading term: -9x3
Leading coefficient:
 Example

p(x) = – 9x3+ 3x2 – 15x – 8

Degree of polynomial: 3
Constant Term: -8
Leading term: -9x3
Leading coefficient: -9
Graphing Polynomial Functions
 Graphing Polynomial Functions

1. The domain of polynomial functions is the set of real

numbers.
 Graphing Polynomial Functions

2. The zeroes/roots of polynomial functions are the x-

intercepts or the points of the graph that lie on the x-axis.
 Graphing Polynomial Functions

2. The zeroes/roots of polynomial functions are the x-

intercepts or the points of the graph that lie on the x-axis.
 Graphing Polynomial Functions

3. The graph of a polynomial function is smooth and

continuous.
 Graphing Polynomial Functions

If a graph is smooth, then it is a smooth

curve with no corners or sharp points.
 Graphing Polynomial Functions

If a graph is smooth, then it is a smooth

curve with no corners or sharp points.
If it is continuous, it has no gaps, breaks,
or holes.
 Let us determine if the
following is a graph of a
polynomial function or not.
 Is it a
graph of
polynomia
l function
or not?
 Is it a
graph of
polynomia
l function
or not?
Why?
The graph
has a sharp
point or
corner.
 Is it a
graph of
polynomia
l function
or not?
Why?
It has a
gap.
 Is it a
graph of
polynomia
l function
or not?
 Is it a
graph of
polynomia
l function
or not?
 Is it a
graph of
polynomia
l function
or not?
Why?
It has a
sharp
corner.
 Turning Points

• Turning points are points where the graph

changes from increasing to decreasing, or vice
versa.
 Turning Points

• Turning points are points where the graph

changes from increasing to decreasing, or vice
versa.
 Turning Points

• Turning points are points where the graph

changes from increasing to decreasing, or vice
versa.
• A polynomial function of degree n has at most
(n – 1) turning points on its graph.
 How
many
turning
points
does it
have?
 How
many
turning
points
does it
have?
 Since the
formula to
determine the
number of
turning points is
(n – 1) and n is
the degree of the
polynomial
which is equal
to 4, therefore:
(n-1) = (4-1) = 3
It has 3 turning
points.
 How
many
turning
points
does it
have?
(n-1) = (3-1) = 2

It has 2 turning
points.
 End Behavior of Polynomials

• The end behavior of the graph of a polynomial is

determined by its leading term.
 Summary (page 113)
P(x) is odd degree P(x) is even degree
Sign of
Leading Positive Negative Positive Negative
Coefficient
End Falls to the Rises to the Rises to the Falls to the
behavior of left, rises to left, falls to left and left and
the graph the right the right right right
If the leading term has
odd degree and
positive leading
coefficient, then the
graph falls to the left
and rises to the right.
If the leading term has
odd degree and
positive leading
coefficient, then the
graph falls to the left
and rises to the right.
If the leading term has
odd degree and
negative leading
coefficient, then the
graph rises to the left
and falls to the right.
If the leading term has
odd degree and
negative leading
coefficient, then the
graph rises to the left
and falls to the right.
If the leading term has
even degree and
positive leading
coefficient, then the
graph rises to the left
and right.
If the leading term has
even degree and
positive leading
coefficient, then the
graph rises to the left
and right.
If the leading term has
even degree and
negative leading
coefficient, then the
graph falls to the left
and right.
If the leading term has
even degree and
negative leading
coefficient, then the
graph falls to the left
and right.
 Example 1
P(x) = 5x4 + 2x3 – x + 3
What is the
Degree
leading term?
Leading
Coefficient
Turning Points
End Behavior of the Graph
 Example 1
P(x) = 5x4 + 2x3 – x + 3 The leading term
is 5x4. Is the
Degree
degree even or
Leading odd?
Coefficient
Turning Points
End Behavior of the Graph
 Example 1
P(x) = 5x4 + 2x3 – x + 3 The leading term
is 5x4. Is the
Degree Even
degree even or
Leading odd?
Coefficient
Turning Points
End Behavior of the Graph
 Example 1
P(x) = 5x4 + 2x3 – x + 3
What is the sign
Degree Even of the leading
Leading coefficient?
Coefficient
Turning Points
End Behavior of the Graph
 Example 1
P(x) = 5x4 + 2x3 – x + 3
What is the sign
Degree Even of the leading
Leading Positive coefficient?
Coefficient
Turning Points
End Behavior of the Graph
 Example 1
P(x) = 5x4 + 2x3 – x + 3
How many
Degree Even turning points
Leading Positive does it have?
Coefficient
Turning Points
End Behavior of the Graph
 Example 1
Since we don’t
P(x) = 5x4 + 2x3 – x + 3
have a graph, we
Degree Even cannot tell exactly
Leading Positive the number of
Coefficient turning points.
Turning Points
End Behavior of the Graph
 Example 1 But the formula
(n – 1) tells us that
P(x) = 5x4 + 2x3 – x + 3
the number of
Degree Even turning points is
Leading Positive less than the
Coefficient degree of the
Turning Points polynomial.
End Behavior of the Graph
 Example 1
P(x) = 5x4 + 2x3 – x + 3 Hence, the
number of
Degree Even
turning points is
Leading Positive less than 4.
Coefficient
Turning Points Less than 4
End Behavior of the Graph
 Example 1
P(x) = 5x4 + 2x3 – x + 3
What is the end
Degree Even behavior of the
Leading Positive graph?
Coefficient
Turning Points Less than 4
End Behavior of the Graph
 Example 1
Since the leading
P(x) = 5x4 + 2x3 – x + 3
term has even
Degree Even degree and
Leading Positive positive
Coefficient coefficient,
Turning Points Less than 4
End Behavior of the Graph
 Example 1
P(x) = 5x4 + 2x3 – x + 3
The graph rises to
Degree Even
the left and right.
Leading Positive
Coefficient
Turning Points Less than 4
End Behavior of the Graph Rises to the left and right
 Example 1
P(x) = 5x4 + 2x3 – x + 3

Degree Even
Leading Positive
Coefficient
Turning Points Less than 4
Thus, this is the graph of the
End Behavior of the Graph Rises to the left and right given polynomial.
 Example 2
P(x) = -3x7 + 4x5 – 6x4 – 3x3 – 2x + 1
What is the
Degree
leading term?
Leading Coefficient

Turning Points

End Behavior of the Graph

 Example 2
The leading term
P(x) = -3x7 + 4x5 – 6x4 – 3x3 – 2x + 1
is -3x7. Is the
Degree degree of the
Leading Coefficient
polynomial odd or
even?
Turning Points

End Behavior of the Graph

 Example 2
The leading term
P(x) = -3x7 + 4x5 – 6x4 – 3x3 – 2x + 1
is -3x7. Is the
Degree Odd degree of the
Leading Coefficient
polynomial odd or
even?
Turning Points

End Behavior of the Graph

 Example 2
P(x) = -3x7 + 4x5 – 6x4 – 3x3 – 2x + 1
What is the sign
Degree Odd
of the coefficient?
Leading Coefficient

Turning Points

End Behavior of the Graph

 Example 2
P(x) = -3x7 + 4x5 – 6x4 – 3x3 – 2x + 1
What is the sign
Degree Odd
of the coefficient?
Leading Coefficient Negative
Turning Points

End Behavior of the Graph

 Example 2
P(x) = -3x7 + 4x5 – 6x4 – 3x3 – 2x + 1
How many
Degree Odd turning points
Leading Coefficient Negative does it have?
Turning Points

End Behavior of the Graph

 Example 2
P(x) = -3x7 + 4x5 – 6x4 – 3x3 – 2x + 1
How many
Degree Odd turning points
Leading Coefficient Negative does it have?
Turning Points Less than 7
End Behavior of the Graph
 Example 2
P(x) = -3x7 + 4x5 – 6x4 – 3x3 – 2x + 1
What is the end
Degree Odd behavior of the
Leading Coefficient Negative graph?
Turning Points Less than 7
End Behavior of the Graph
 Example 2
P(x) = -3x7 + 4x5 – 6x4 – 3x3 – 2x + 1
What is the end
Degree Odd behavior of the
Leading Coefficient Negative graph?
Turning Points Less than 7
End Behavior of the Graph Rises to the left and falls to the right
 Example 2
P(x) = -3x7 + 4x5 – 6x4 – 3x3 – 2x + 1

Degree Odd
Leading Coefficient Negative
Turning Points Less than 7
End Behavior of the Graph Rises to the left and falls to the right Thus, this is the graph of the
given polynomial.