MHF4U

1.2 END BEHAVIOURS AND SHAPES OF POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS

Definition - Polynomial Function

polynomial function
A ___________________________________ of degree ‘n’ is a function whose equation can be written in the form

f ( x ) = an xn + an-1 xn-1 + an-2 x n-2 + … + a1 x + a0
where n is a whole number, x is a variable and the coefficients an , an -1 , an - 2 … a1, a0 are real numbers.

a
leading efficient
an =

a0 = constant

degree
The ____________________ of the function is n, the exponent of the highest power of x.

Definitions

polynomial function that has the

a is
An even degree function _________________________________________________________________________

an even number
______________________________________________________________________________________________
degree
is a polynomial function that has the
An odd degree function _________________________________________________________________________

degree an odd number

______________________________________________________________________________________________

direction in which thefunctiontravels

the
The end-behaviour refers to ______________________________________________________________________

We read graphs from left to from negative

right
______________________________________________________________________________________________

values of se towards positive values y

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Table 1:
y = 2 x3 - x + 1 y = 3x5 - x 4 - 3x 2 - 1 y = -3x5 - x 4 + 3 - 2 x 2 + 2 x7
I

3
Degree: ___________________
5
Degree: ___________________ Degree: ___________________

Leading Coefficient: _________

723
Leading Coefficient: _________

2
Leading Coefficient: _________

odd

positive
Conclusion: The end behavior of an ________________ degree polynomial function with a ___________________

II I
leading coefficient goes from quadrant ______________ to quadrant ______________.

3 s
 Table 2:
y = -2 x3 + x - 1 y = - x5 + 3x 4 - 2 x 2 - 4 y = - x 2 - 3x5 - 2 x 4 - 1

3
Degree: ___________________ 5
Degree: ___________________

5
Degree: ___________________

2
Leading Coefficient: _________ Leading Coefficient: _________ I 3
Leading Coefficient: _________

odd

Conclusion: The end behavior of an ________________ degree polynomial function with a ___________________
negative

Table 3:
I G I
leading coefficient goes from quadrant ______________ to quadrant ______________.
4

y = 2 x4 - x2 - 3 y = x8 + 2 x 5 - 2 x 4 - 2 y = 4 x3 - 2 x 2 + 3x 6 - 5

4 8
62I
Degree: ___________________ Degree: ___________________ Degree: ___________________

Leading Coefficient: _________ Leading Coefficient: _________ 3
Leading Coefficient: _________

even
Conclusion: The end behavior of an ________________ degree polynomial function with a ___________________
positive

Table 4:
ICH ICI
leading coefficient goes from quadrant ______________ to quadrant ______________.

y = -2 x8 - x3 - x + 6 y = - x 4 - 2 x3 + 2 x 2 - 4 y = - x 3 + 2 x - 3x 6 + 2

8
Degree: ___________________ 4
Degree: ___________________ 6
Degree: ___________________

2
Leading Coefficient: _________ I
Leading Coefficient: _________ 3
Leading Coefficient: _________

even negative
Conclusion: The end behavior of an ________________ degree polynomial function with a ___________________

II I 4
leading coefficient goes from quadrant ______________ to quadrant ______________.
3
 MHF4U 1.2 END BEHAVIOURS AND SHAPES OF POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS
Conclusions:

1. Odd degree polynomials with positive leading coefficients go from ______________________. 3 g
2. 2 4
Odd degree polynomials with negative leading coefficients go from _____________________.

3. 2 I
Even degree polynomials with positive leading coefficients go from _____________________.

4. 3 4
Even degree polynomials with negative leading coefficients go from _____________________.

Definition – Power Function

fix axn
A power function is a polynomial of the form _____________________________ where n is a whole number, x is a
variable, and a is a real number. Power functions allow us to examine how the degree effects the shape of the
curve around the x-intercept .

Odd Degree Power Functions

y = x3 y = x5 y = x7










As the degree increases, the graph:
-flattens as it approaches the origin, for -1 £ x £ 1 and
-gets steeper for x < -1 and x > 1

0.125
( 0.5)3 = ( 2 )3 = 8

1
( 0.5)5 = ( 2 )5 = 32

32
Even Degree Power Functions


y = x2 y = x4 y = x6