Remember integers are … –2, -1, 0, 1, 2 … (no decimals

or fractions) so nonnegative integers would be 0, 1, 2 …

A polynomial function is a function of the form:

n must be a nonnegative integer

f ( x ) = an x + an −1 x
n n −1
+  + a1 x + ao

All of these coefficients are real numbers

The degree of the polynomial is the largest

power on any x term in the polynomial.
Determine which of the following are polynomial
functions. If the function is a polynomial, state its
degree.
f ( x) = 2x − x
4
A polynomial of degree 4.
We can write in an x0 since this = 1.

g ( x) = 2 x 0 A polynomial of degree 0.

Not a polynomial because of the

h( x ) = 2 x + 1
square root since the power is NOT
an integer 1
x = x2
3
F ( x) = + x 2 Not a polynomial because of the x in
the denominator since the power is
x NOT nonnegative 1 −1
=x
x
 Graphs of polynomials are smooth and continuous.
No sharp corners or cusps No gaps or holes, can be drawn
without lifting pencil from paper

This IS the graph This IS NOT the graph

of a polynomial
of a polynomial
 Let’s look at the graph of f ( x) = x n
where n is an
even integer.
g ( x) = x4 h( x ) = x 6

and grows
f ( x) = x 2
steeper on either
side

Notice each graph

looks similar to x2 The higher the
but is wider and power, the flatter
flatter near the and steeper
origin between –1
and 1
 Let’s look at the graph of f ( x) = x n
where n is an
odd integer.

Notice each graph and grows

looks similar to x3 steeper on
but is wider and either side
flatter near the g ( x) = x5
origin between –1
h( x ) = x 7
and 1

f ( x) = x3
The higher the
power, the flatter
and steeper
Let’s graph f ( x) = − x + 2
4

Moves up 2

Reflects over Looks like x2

x-axis but wider near
origin and
steeper after 1
and -1

So as long as the function

is a transformation of xn,
we can graph it, but what if
it’s not? We’ll learn some
techniques to help us
determine what the graph
looks like in the next slides.
 and
LEFT RIGHT

HAND BEHAVIOR OF A GRAPH

The degree of the polynomial along with the sign of the

coefficient of the term with the highest power will tell us
about the left and right hand behavior of a graph.
Even degree polynomials rise on both the left and
right hand sides of the graph (like x2) if the coefficient
is positive. The additional terms may cause the
graph to have some turns near the center but will
always have the same left and right hand behavior
determined by the highest powered term.

left hand right hand

behavior: rises behavior: rises
 Even degree polynomials fall on both the left and
right hand sides of the graph (like - x2) if the
coefficient is negative.

Can turn in the

middle

left hand
right hand
behavior: falls
behavior: falls
 Odd degree polynomials fall on the left and rise on
the right hand sides of the graph (like x3) if the
coefficient is positive.

Can turn in the

middle right hand
behavior: rises

left hand
behavior: falls
Odd degree polynomials rise on the left and fall on
the right hand sides of the graph (like x3) if the
coefficient is negative.

Can turn in the

middle

left hand
behavior: rises

right hand
behavior: falls
 A polynomial of degree n can have at most n-1 turns
(so whatever the degree is, subtract 1 to get the most
times the graph could turn).
Let’s determine left and right hand behavior for the graph
of the function: doesn’t mean it does turn that
( )
f x = x − 3x −most
4 2
+ 19
3 many times
15 xit can +
but that’s the
x
turn
30
degree is 4 which is even and the coefficient is positive so the
graph will look like x2 looks off to the left and off to the right.

The graph can How do we

turn at most 3 determine
times what it looks
like near the
middle?
 0f (=x )( =x −x 2−)(3xx +−315
4 3
)( xx ++119)( xx +− 30
2
5)
x and y intercepts would be useful and we know how
to find those. To find the y intercept we put 0 in for x.

f ( 0 ) = 0 − 3( 0 ) − 15( 0 ) + 19( 0 ) + 30 = 30
4 3 2

To find the x intercept we put 0 in for y. We don’t know

how to solve this yet so let me give you the factored
version of this polynomial. Later in the chapter we’ll learn
how to factor.
Finally we need a smooth (0,30)
curve through the
intercepts that has the
correct left and right hand
behavior. To pass through
these points, it will have 3
turns (one less than the degree
so that’s okay)
 0f (=x )( =x −x 2−)(3xx +−315
)( xx ++119)( xx −+ 30
5)
4 3 2

We found the x intercept by putting 0 in for f(x) or y (they

are the same thing remember). So we call the x intercepts
the zeros of the polynomial since it is where it = 0. These
are also called the roots of the polynomial.

g ( x) = ( x − 1) ( x + 2 ) ( x − 3)
Can you find the zeros 3 2
of the polynomial?

There are repeated factors. (x-1) is to the 3rd power so it

is repeated 3 times. If we set this equal to zero and solve
we get 1. We then say that 1 is a zero of multiplicity 3
(since it showed up as a factor 3 times).
What are the other -2 is a zero of multiplicity 2
zeros and their
3 is a zero of multiplicity 1
multiplicities?
So knowing the zeros of a polynomial we can plot them on
the graph. If we know the multiplicity of the zero, it tells us
whether the graph crosses the x axis at this point (odd
multiplicities CROSS) or whether it just touches the axis
and turns and heads back the other way (even multiplicities
TOUCH). Let’s try to graph:

( ) ( )( )
2 What would the left and
f x = − x −1 x + 2 right hand behavior be?
You don’t need to multiply this out but figure out what the
highest power on an x would be if multiplied out. In this
case it would be an x3. Notice the negative out in front.
What would the y 1 of mult. 1
intercept be? (0, 4) (so crosses axis
at 1)
Find the zeros and -2 of mult. 2
their multiplicity (so touches at 2)
Steps for Graphing a Polynomial
•Determine left and right hand behavior by looking at
the highest power on x and the sign of that term.
•Determine maximum number of turns in graph by
subtracting 1 from the degree.
•Find and plot y intercept by putting 0 in for x
•Find the zeros (x intercepts) by setting polynomial = 0 and
solving.
•Determine multiplicity of zeros.

•Join the points together in a smooth curve touching or

crossing zeros depending on multiplicity and using left and
right hand behavior as a guide.
 Let’s graph: f ( x ) = x ( x − 3)( x + 4)
2

••Determine
••Find and plot
Determine left
y and right
intercept
maximum byhand behavior
putting
number of 0 in
turns forby
in x looking
graph by atand
Find
Join the
the points
zeros (x
together
intercepts)
in a smooth
by settingcurve
polynomial
touching
•Determine multiplicity of zeros. 0 multiplicity 2 (touches) = or
0
the highest
zerospower on xdegree.
and the sign ofand thatusing
term.left and
f ( 0 ) = 0 ( ( 0 − )(3)( 0 +) 4 ) = 0
subtracting
solving.
crossing 1depending
2from the on multiplicity
0 =
right Multiplying
hand
x
behavior
2
x −
as
out,
3a
x +
guide.
highest
4 3 multiplicity 1 (crosses)
power
Zeros are: 0,
would be x4 3, -4
Degree is 4 so maximum number -4 multiplicity
of turns1is(crosses)
3
Here is the actual graph. We did pretty good. If we’d wanted to be
more accurate on how low to go before turning we could have
plugged in an x value somewhere between the zeros and found the y
value. We are not going to be picky about this though since there is a
great method in calculus for finding these maxima and minima.
 What is we thought backwards? Given the
zeros and the degree can you come up with a
polynomial? Find a polynomial of degree 3 that
has zeros –1, 2 and 3.

What would the function look like in factored form to have

the zeros given above?

f ( x ) = ( x + 1)( x − 2 )( x − 3)
Multiply this out to get the polynomial. FOIL two of them
and then multiply by the third one.

f ( x) = x − 4x + x + 6
3 2