POLY-GRAPHS

Duration: 10 minutes
Materials Needed: pen, graphing paper

1. For this activity, look for a partner

2. Plot the values of 𝑥 and 𝑃(𝑥) given for each

function on a graphing paper.

3. Then, connect the points with lines or curves.

Lesson 3

Graphs of Polynomial
Functions
 At the end of this lesson, the learner should be able to

● correctly find the - and -intercepts of a polynomial function;

● correctly sketch the graph of a polynomial function;

● correctly describe the end behavior of the graph of a

polynomial function; and
● What are the - and -intercepts of a polynomial function
and how can you find them?

● How can you graph a polynomial function?

● How can you describe the graph of a polynomial function?

 -intercept(s) of a polynomial function
1 point(s) where the graph intersects the -axis

The zeros of a function indicate its -intercepts.

Example:
The -intercepts of the function are
, , and .

If , then .
If , then .
If , then .
 -intercept(s) of a polynomial function
1 point(s) where the graph intersects the -axis

The zeros of a function indicate its -intercepts.

Example:

Thus, the graph of intersects the -axis at , , and .

 -intercept of a polynomial function
2 point where the graph intersects the -axis

The -intercept is obtained by evaluating the function at .

Example:
The -intercept of the function is because .

Thus, the graph of intersects the -axis at .

Example 1: Graph .
Example 1: Graph .

Solution:
1. The function is quadratic in the form . Therefore, it has a
vertex at where and\
.

Thus, the vertex is at .

Example 1: Graph .

Solution:
2. Find the -intercepts by solving the equation
.
Example 1: Graph .

Solution:
2. Find the -intercepts by solving the equation
.

The zeros of the equation are and .

Thus, the graph of the function intersects the -axis at

and .
Example 1: Graph .

Solution:
3. Find the -intercept by evaluating at .

Thus, the graph intersects the -axis at .

Example 1: Graph .

Solution:
4. Plot the graph using the
points from 1 to 3.
Example 2: Suppose we are given the polynomial
.

a. Find the - and the -intercepts of the function.

b. Use the -intercepts to determine the intervals in which the

graph is above the -axis and the intervals in which the graph is
below the -axis.

c. Create a table of values, then plot the points and connect them
with a smooth continuous curve.
Example 2: Suppose we are given the polynomial
.

Solution:
1. Find the -intercepts by solving the equation
.
Example 2: Suppose we are given the polynomial
.

Solution:
1. Find the -intercepts by solving the equation
.

The zeros of the equation are of multiplicity 2 and of

multiplicity 1.

Thus, the graph of the function intersects the -axis at

and .
Example 2: Suppose we are given the polynomial
.

Solution:
2. Find the -intercept by evaluating at .

Thus, the graph intersects the -axis at .

Example 2: Suppose we are given the polynomial
.

Solution:
3. The two -intercepts divide the -axis into three intervals: , ,
and . We make the following table.
Interval
Test -value
Function Value
Location of Graph Below -axis Below -axis Above -axis
Point on Graph
Example 2: Suppose we are given the polynomial
.

Solution:
4. Just like other types of functions, polynomial functions can
also be graphed more easily if we first construct a table of
values.
Example 2: Suppose we are given the polynomial
.

Solution:
5. Plot the function.

The limiting behavior of the function gives insight on how

the function behaves as assumes large positive or
negative values.
Example 2: Suppose we are given the polynomial
.

Solution:
5. Plot the function.

We have , so the degree of the function is odd and the sign

of its leading term is positive.

Thus, as and as .
Example 2: Suppose we are given the polynomial
.

Solution:
5. Plot the function.

Thus, the graph of the

function is:
Individual Practice:

1. Graph .

2. Graph the function .

 -intercept(s) of a polynomial function
1 point(s) where the graph intersects the -axis

The zeros of a function indicate its -intercepts.

-intercept of a polynomial function

2 point where the graph intersects the -axis

The -intercept is obtained by evaluating the function at .

Domain of a Polynomial Function

3 The domain of a polynomial function is the set of all real numbers.
● How are you going to sketch the graph of a polynomial
function?

● Why is it important to learn how to graph polynomial

functions?

● In what fields do polynomial functions prove to be useful?

recall of the graph
INTERCEPTS
- are points at which the graph crossses the axes.
• x-intercept: we set y equal to zero and solve for x.
• y-intercept: we set x equal to zero and solve for y.

ex. y = x + 2
sol. x-intercept
0=x+2
-2 = x
sol. y-intercept
y=0+2
y=2
ex. y = (x + 3)(x-1)
sol. x-intercept
0=x+3
-3 = x
0=x-1
1= x
sol. y-intercept
y = (0 + 3)(0-1)
y = (3)(-1)
y = -3
MULTIPLICITY OF ZEROS
-it tells how many times a particular number is a root/zero of a given
polynomial

characteristics of multiplicity behaviour of the graph relative to x-axis

even tangent to x-axis

odd crossses the x-axis

ex. y = (x2)(x-1)3
FACTORS ZEROS MULTIPLICITY CHARACTERISTICS OF MULTIPLICITY OF ZERO: BEHAVIOUR OF THE
ODD OR EVEN GRAPH

x2 0 2 EVEN TANGENT TO X-AXIS

(x-1)3 1 3 ODD CROSSES TO X-AXIS
ex. y = (x-1)5 (x+2)4
FACTORS ZEROS MULTIPLICITY CHARACTERISTICS OF MULTIPLICITY OF ZERO: BEHAVIOUR OF THE
ODD OR EVEN GRAPH

(x-1)5 1 5 ODD CROSSES TO X-AXIS

(x+2)4 -2 4 EVEN TANGENT TO X-AXIS
Definition:
A reflection of a graph is a kind of transformation that makes the new figure a
mirror image of the original figure.
Ex. F(x)= x2 F(x)= -x2
Ex. F(x)= x3 F(x)= -x3
A translation of a graph means a shift or movement in its location
without changing the shape of the graph
Ex. a.F(x)= x4 b. F(x)= x4 + 3 c. F(x)= x4 - 3
Ex. a.F(x)= x3 b. F(x)= x3 + 2 c. F(x)= x3 - 2
Ex. a.F(x)= x4 b. F(x)= (x+2)4 c. F(x)= (x-2)4
Ex. a.F(x)= x2 b. F(x)= (x-2)2 c. F(x)= (x-2)2 +3
End Behavior
-The end behavior is the behavior of the graph of a function to the far left or
the far right.
- The end behavior can be described with the symbol + infinity and - infinity.
- The end behavior of a polynomial function depends on the degree of the
function and the sign of its leading coefficient. The leading coefficient is the
coefficient of the highest power of the variable.
The leading coefficient test
type 1: this type applies to functions whose degree is odd and whose leading
coefficient is positive. the graph falls to the left and rises to the right.

type 2: this type applies to functions whose degree is odd and whose leading
coefficient is negative. the graph rises to the left and falls to the right.

type 3: this type applies to functions whose degree is even and whose leading
coefficient is positive. the graph rises to the left and to the right.

type 4: this type applies to functions whose degree is even and whose leading
coefficient is negative. the graph falls to the left and to the right.
Try
a. P(x) = x3 (x+2)2
b. P(x) = (x-1)2 (x+1)3
c. P(x) = (x)2 (x+2)2
Sol.
a. P(x) = x3 (x+2)2
b. P(x) = (x-1)2 (x+1)3
c. P(x) = (x)2 (x+2)2
try
a. P(x) = 2x3 - 5x2 - x + 6
b. P(x) = x4 + 3x3 - 13x2 - 27x + 36
c. P(x) = -x5 + 2x4 + 5x3 - 10x2 - 4x + 8
Characteristics in graphing polynomials functions
1. All x-intercepts if they exist
2. y-intercept
3. Zero and their multiplicity
4. End behavior
strategy of graphing polynomials functions
1. use the leading coefficient test to determine the graphs' end behavior.
2. find the x-intercepts by setting P(x) = 0 and solving the resulting
polynomial equation. if there is an x-intercept at r as a result of (x-r)k in the
complete factorization of P(x), then:
- if k is even, the graph touches the x-axis at r and turns around.
- if k is odd, the graph crosses the x-axis at r.
-if k > 1, the graph flattens out at (r,0)
3. find the y-intercept by equating x to 0 and compute P(0).
4. use the fact that the maximum number of turning points of the graph is
n-1 to check whether it is drawn correctly.
Ex.2
Try this!