Names: ______________________________ ________________________________ Period: _______

Roller Coaster Engineering Project

Congratulations! You have just been hired by Six Flags to design the next roller coaster that will be built at Great
Adventure. Before you begin your roller coaster design, however, Six Flags wants to evaluate your knowledge of
polynomial equations to make sure you are fit to design a roller coaster of your own.

Roller Coaster Design Company Name: ________________________________________________________________

Part 1 – Analyzing Already Existing Roller Coasters

A portion of the graph of a particular quintic polynomial models the path of the roller
coaster Nitro. The graph of the path of Nitro is shown at the right. The x-axis represents
time (in minutes) from when the ride begins, and the y-axis represents the height (in tens
of feet) of the roller coaster at that given time.

1. This roller coaster only includes positive values of x. Why does that make sense? (Hint:
What do the x values represent in the context of the problem?)
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
2. Between 0 and 2 minutes and 3 and 4 minutes the roller coasters height is negative. What does this mean in the
context of the problem? Is it possible – why or why not?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
3. What is the domain and range of the roller coaster? What do they mean in this context?

4. At approximately what intervals is the polynomial increasing and decreasing?

5. What are the maximum(s) and minimum(s) of Nitro? (Make sure to put them as a coordinate point and label them
as max or min)

6. From looking at the graph of Nitro, what are the x-intercepts and their multiplicity?

7. What is the degree of this polynomial? ________

9. Using the roots and their corresponding multiplicities from part f, write the polynomial equation that models the
path of Nitro in factored form.
𝑁(𝑥) =
10. Convert the factored form of your equation above into standard form (by hand or by using tech).

𝑁(𝑥) =

Teacher Approval: _____________________________________

Part II – Designing Your Own Roller Coaster

Good work on Part I of this project – you have been hired to engineer a new roller coaster! Follow the directions below
to design your own coaster and analyze its properties.

1. Using desmos.com, you will now create a polynomial in factored form and choose a portion of that graph to create
your own roller coaster. Your roller coaster must meet the following criteria:
a. Have whole number coefficients (no decimals or fractions)
b. Be of degree 3 (or higher)
c. Have real root
d. Go underground through a tunnel at least once

Roller Coaster Name: ________________________________________________________________

2. Once you think you have the polynomial that you want, write the equation below.

P(x) =

3. Then, show me the graph of your polynomial so that I can approve it.

Teacher Approval: _________________________________

6. What is the multiplicity of each root of your polynomial?

7. Convert the factored form of your equation into standard form (Hint: use Wolfram Alpha).

8. Do long division on each root of your polynomial to prove that each of your roots is indeed a root (ie you get a
remainder of 0 when you do long division).

9. Classify the polynomial by its degree, type of general shape, general shape graph and the end behavior.

Degree: Type of General Shape: General Shape Graph:

End Behavior: 𝑥 → ∞, 𝑓(𝑥) → _______ 𝑥 → −∞, 𝑓(𝑥) → _______

10. Use the graph of your roller coaster and Desmos to answer the following questions:
a. What is the y-intercept of your polynomial? What does it mean in the context of this problem?

b. What are the maximums and minimums of your roller coaster? (Make sure to list them as a coordinate pair and
label if it is a max or min)

c. What is the domain and range of your roller coaster? (Hint: the domain would be the x-values that your roller
coaster starts and ends at and the range would be the highest and lowest points of your roller coaster) What do
they mean in the context of the problem?

d. At what interval(s) is your polynomial increasing? At what interval(s) is your polynomial decreasing?
11. Now you get to make your poster! The following elements must be included somewhere on your poster:
a. Your Roller Coaster Design Company Name with the name of your Roller Coaster
b. The degree, the general shape and the end behavior of your polynomial.
c. A nice big graph of your roller coaster. Make sure that the x and y axis are labeled with your variable and scale.
Make sure your graph is neat and pretty! This graph should look like a real-life roller coaster! It should be full of
color, roller coaster cars, people, background scenery or whatever else you would like to add!
d. The important points of your roller coaster are labeled on your graph. This includes:
i. The x-intercepts (ie roots) along with their multiplicity,
ii. The y-intercepts,
iii. The minimums,
iv. And the maximums.
e. The equation of your polynomial in factored and in standard form.
f. The domain and range of your polynomial with an explanation of what it means in context of the problem.
g. The intervals of increasing and decreasing of your roller coaster.