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Steps To Graph Polynomial Functions1

The document outlines 7 steps to graph polynomial functions: 1) arrange the function in standard form, 2) determine behavior at limits, 3) find the y-intercept, 4) find x-intercepts by setting the function equal to 0 and solving, 5) use x-intercepts to divide the x-axis into intervals and determine sign, 6) use multiplicity of zeros to determine if the graph crosses or touches the x-axis, 7) find additional points and sketch the graph as a smooth curve with the correct number of intercepts and turning points.

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Kristian Kuli
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29 views

Steps To Graph Polynomial Functions1

The document outlines 7 steps to graph polynomial functions: 1) arrange the function in standard form, 2) determine behavior at limits, 3) find the y-intercept, 4) find x-intercepts by setting the function equal to 0 and solving, 5) use x-intercepts to divide the x-axis into intervals and determine sign, 6) use multiplicity of zeros to determine if the graph crosses or touches the x-axis, 7) find additional points and sketch the graph as a smooth curve with the correct number of intercepts and turning points.

Uploaded by

Kristian Kuli
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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StepsToGraphPolynomialFunctions

1. Makesurethefunctionisarrangedinthecorrectdescendingorderofpower.

n n-1
f(x)=anx +an-1x +...+a1x+a0,wheretheleadingcoefficientan0

2. Determinethefar-leftandfar-rightbehaviorofthefunction.

niseven nisodd

uptothefar-left downtothefar-left
uptothefar-right uptothefar-right

y y

an>0

x x

downtothefar-left uptothefar-left
downtothefar-right downtothefar-right

y y

an<0

x x
3. Findthey-intercept.

a. Tofindf(0),substitutezeroforeachxinthefunction.
b. Writeyoury-interceptintheform(0,__)
c. Plotthispoint.

4. Findanyx-intercepts.

a. Setthefunctionequaltozero.
b. Solvetheresultingequationbyfactoring(orusetheRationalZerosTheoremtofindtherealzeros).
c. Writethex-interceptsintheform(__,0)
d. Plotthesepoints.

NOTE:Youwillneedthefactoredformfoundinthissteptocompletetherestofthesteps.

f(x)=(x-a)(x+b)(x-c)...

5. Usethex-intercepts(zeros)todividethex-axisintointervalsandchoosetestapointineachinterval.
Determinethesignofallfunctionvaluesinthatinterval.

6. Usethemultiplicityofeachzerotodeterminewherethegraphcrossesthe x-axis.

Foreachfactor(x-c)kofthefunctionf:

Ifkiseven,thegraphwillintersectbutnotcrossthex-axisat(c,0).
Ifkisodd,thegraphwillcrossthex-axisat(c,0).

7. Ifnecessary,findadditionalpointstodrawanaccurategraph.

Substitutevaluesforxintothefactoredformofthefunction,nottheexpandedform.
Payattentiontosignswhenyouaresimplifying.

8. Sketchthegraph.

Yourgraphshouldbeasmooth,continuouscurvethatcontainsatmost nx-interceptsandatmost(n-1)
turningpoints.

J.Roy/NorthwestVistaCollege

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