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3-1 Enrichment
Graphing Polynomial Functions
The first 27-yd section of a roller coaster can be expressed by the equation:
y = −0.0001x 6 + 0.0069x 5 − 0.1681x 4 + 1.6979x 3 − 6.167x 2 + 6.6x − 32.4
The x-axis represents the ramp that the maintenance crew uses as a platform to
work on parts of the roller coaster and the y-axis represents the ladder used by
the crew to access the platform.
1. Sketch the graph. Label the ramp that they workers walk on as well as
the ladder.
Answer:
y
100
80
60
40
Ladder Platform
20
x
–2 O 5 10 15 20 25 30
–20
–40
2. Assuming the ride goes from left to right, during which intervals is the ride
going uphill?
x < 0.74, 3.018 < x < 11.17, and 17.799 < x < 24.772
3. During which intervals is the ride going downhill?
0.74 < x < 3.018, 11.17 < x < 17.799, and x > 24.772
4. At how many yards into the ride can the maintence crew access the track
from the ramp?
x = 7.452, 15, 20 and 27
5. If the passengers enter the ride where the y-intercept on the ground, how
many yards above ground is the ramp
32.4 yd
6. How high is the steepest hill from ground level?
145.806 yd
enVision™ Algebra 2 • Teaching Resources
