Obj.

7 Polynomial Graphs
Unit 2 Quadratic and Polynomial Functions

Concepts and Objectives

Objective #7 Identify and interpret vertical and horizontal translations Identify the end behavior of a function Identify the number of turning points of a function Use the Intermediate Value Theorem and the Boundedness Theorem to locate zeros of a function Use the calculator to approximate real zeros

Graphing Polynomial Functions

If we look at graphs of functions of the form f ( x ) = ax n , we can see a definite pattern:

f ( x ) = x2

g( x ) = x3

h( x ) = x

j ( x ) = x5

Graphing Polynomial Functions

For a polynomial function of degree n If n is even, the function is an even function. An even function has a range of the form ( , k] or [k, ) for some real number k. The graph may or may not have a real zero (x-intercept.) If n is odd, the function is an odd function. The range of an odd function is the set of all real numbers, ( , ). The graph will have at least one real zero (x-intercept).

Graphing Polynomial Functions

Compare the graphs of the two functions:

f ( x ) = x2

h( x ) = x 2

g( x ) = x2 2

j ( x ) = ( x 1)

Graphing Polynomial Functions

Vertical translation The graph of f ( x ) = ax n + k is shifted k units up if k > 0 and |k| units down if k < 0. Horizontal translation n The graph of f ( x ) = a ( x h) is shifted h units to the right if h > 0 and |h| units to the left if h < 0.

Graphing Polynomial Functions

Example: Write the equation of the function of degree 3 graphed below. This is an odd function. The vertex is at (2, 3). The vertex has been shifted up 3 units and to the right 2 units. So, its going to be something like: f ( x ) = a ( x 2) + 3
3

Graphing Polynomial Functions

Example (cont.):
f ( x ) = a ( x 2) + 3
3

To determine what a is, we can pick a point and plug in values:

f ( 3) = 4
3

f ( 3 ) = a ( 3 2) + 3 = 4 a +3 = 4 a =1
f ( x ) = ( x 2) + 3
3

Multiplicity and Graphs

What is the multiplicity of g ( x ) = ( x 4 ) ? The zero 4 has multiplicity 5 The multiplicity of a zero and whether the function is even or odd determines what the graph does at a zero. A zero of multiplicity one crosses the x-axis. A zero of even multiplicity turns or bounces at the x-axis . A zero of odd multiplicity greater than one crosses the x-axis and wiggles.
5

Turning Points and End Behavior

The point where a graph changes direction (bounces or wiggles) is called a turning point of the function. A function of degree n will have at most n 1 turning points, with at least one turning point between each pair of adjacent zeros. The end behavior of a polynomial graph is determined by the term with the largest exponent (the dominating term). For example, f ( x ) = 2x 3 8 x + 9 has the same end behavior as f ( x ) = 2x 3 .

End Behavior
Example: Use symbols for end behavior to describe the end behavior of the graph of each function. 1. f ( x ) = x 4 + 2x 2 + x 8 2. g ( x ) = 2x 3 + 3x 2 x + 5 3. h ( x ) = 2x 5 + x 3 + 1 even function opens downward odd function increases odd function decreases

Intermediate Value Theorem

If f(x) defines a polynomial function with only real coefficients, and if for real numbers a and b, the values f(a) and f(b) are opposite in sign, then there exists at least one real zero between a and b. This means that if we plug in two numbers and the answers have different signs (one positive and one negative), the function has to have crossed the x-axis between the two values.

Intermediate Value Theorem

Example: Show that f ( x ) = x 3 2x 2 x + 1 has a real zero between 2 and 3. You can either plug the values in, or you can use synthetic division to evaluate each value.
2 1 2 1 1 2 0 2 1 0 1 1 3 1 2 1 3 3 1 1 2 1 6 7

Since the sign changes, there must be a real zero between 2 and 3.

Intermediate Value Theorem

If f(a) and f(b) are not opposite in sign, it does not necessarily mean that there is no zero between a and b. Consider the function, f ( x ) = x 2 2x 1 , at 1 and 3:

f(1) = 2 > 0 and f(3)= 2 >0 This would imply that there is no zero between 1 and 3, but we can see that f has two zeros between those points.

Boundedness Theorem
Let f(x) be a polynomial function of degree n 1 with real coefficients and with a positive leading coefficient. If f(x) is divided synthetically by x c, and (a) if c > 0 and all numbers in the bottom row are nonnegative, then f(x) has no zeros greater than c; (b) if c < 0 and the numbers in the bottom row alternate in sign, then f(x) has no zero less than c.

Boundedness Theorem
Example: Show that the real zeros of f ( x ) = x 4 + 5 x 2 + 3x 7 satisfy the following conditions, a) No real zero is greater than 1
1 1 0 5 3 7 1 1 6 9 1 1 6 9 2

Since the bottom row numbers are all 0, f(x) has no zero greater than 1.

Boundedness Theorem
Example: Show that the real zeros of f ( x ) = x 4 + 5 x 2 + 3x 7 satisfy the following conditions, b) No real zero is less than 2
2 1 0 5 3 7 2 4 18 30 1 2 9 15 23

Since the signs of the bottom numbers alternate, f(x) has no zero less than 2.

Approximating Real Zeros

Example: Approximate the real zeros of

f ( x ) = x 3 8 x 2 + 4 x + 10
Step 1: Enter the function into o

Approximating Real Zeros

Example: Approximate the real zeros of

f ( x ) = x 3 8 x 2 + 4 x + 10
Step 2: Press y r and then

Approximating Real Zeros

Example: Approximate the real zeros of

f ( x ) = x 3 8 x 2 + 4 x + 10
Step 3: Position the cursor at the far left above the x-axis and press Step 4: Move the cursor below the x-axis and press

Approximating Real Zeros

Example: Approximate the real zeros of

f ( x ) = x 3 8 x 2 + 4 x + 10
Step 5: Our first zero is at 8.33594

Approximating Real Zeros

Example: Approximate the real zeros of

f ( x ) = x 3 8 x 2 + 4 x + 10
Repeat steps 1-5 to find the next two zeros #2: 0.9401088

Approximating Real Zeros

Example: Approximate the real zeros of

f ( x ) = x 3 8 x 2 + 4 x + 10
Repeat steps 1-5 to find the next two zeros #2: 0.9401088 #3: 1.2760488

Homework
College Algebra Page 352: 21-27 (3), 48-69 (3), 81 HW: 24, 48, 54, 60, 63, 66