Name: _______________________________
Class Notes-Polynomial Functions
Date: __________________________
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Polynomial Functions are functions containing variables with only positive integer exponents.
( ie. Functions with variables of exponents {0, 1 ,2 , 3, 4, } )
End Behaviors of Polynomial Functions can be determined from:
(1) the parity of the degree of the function and (2) the sign of the functions leading coefficient.
End Behavior can be described
using limit notation:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For positive leading coefficients,
as x-values increase to positive infinity,
the function (y-values) also increases to
positive infinity.
lim () =
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For negative leading coefficients,
as x-values increase to positive infinity,
the function (y-values) decreases to
negative infinity.
lim () =
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Note: The sign of leading coefficient only determines the right side behavior of a graph (. +)*
-The degree of the function the highest value exponent of the variable in a polynomial function.
-Parity is whether a value is even or odd.
-A leading coefficient is the coefficient of the highest degree variable.
The degree of a function can also determine:
(1) Maximum # of Turning Points
(2) Maximum # of Real Solutions
Real Solutions = Zeros = X-intercepts = Roots
-Multiplicity is the number of times a polynomial equation has a root as a given point.
Roots with odd multiplicity will cross the x-axis.
Roots with even multiplicity will touch the x-axis and bounce back.
Use the graph of = ( + 1)2 ( 2)3 on the right to justify this.
-The factor = 1 has an even multiplicity: ( + 1)2
-The factor = 0 has an odd multiplicity: ()1
-The factor = 2 has an odd multiplicity: ( 2)3