MHF 4U0 Graphs of Polynomial Functions

1. Examine the graphs of polynomial functions in factored form and try to develop some relationships.
Use DESMOS to sketch each function and complete the table.

Even or Sign of
Equation and Sketch Degree Odd Leading x-intercepts(s) y-intercept
Degree? Coefficient

a) f(x) = (x – 2)
fast z
2 froyoas
Odd 9
a s
12,0 gy
y
b) f(x) = -(x – 2)(x + 1)
agony g go.ge
lact

C y em
I 10,2

hi
1,0
c) f(x) = (x - 2)(x + 1)(x + 3)
D

1,0
É

Iff
3 odd 1 so 406

d) f(x) =-2x (x – 2)(x + 1)(x + 3)

12,0
4 1,0
MY
even o.o
s
v v

e) f(x) =x (x – 2)(x + 1)(x + 3)(x – 1)

12,0
1not

EVE
5 odd Cad
49

 What is the relationship between the x-intercepts and the equation of the function?

of x int degree
The ints are the constants factors changed
 g g

 What is the relationship between the y-intercept and the equation of the function?
set x Othensolveforgvalue
ORmultiplyalltheconstants andevaluate
 What happens to the sign of f(x) near each x-intercept?

It changes

2. By considering the degree of the function, the x-intercepts, the y-intercept and the sign of
the leading coefficient, sketch a graph of the following functions WITHOUT desmos

a) f(x) = (x + 2)(x – 3) b) f(x) = x(x – 2)(x + 4)

6
in
c) f(x) = -2(x – 5)(x – 1)(x + 2) d) f(x) = -(x + 3)(x + 1)(x – 3)(x – 1)
2 5 1DCU

t 1 s
Iihf
Io
3. Examine the graphs of polynomials with REPEATED FACTORS. Fill in the following table.

Even or Sign of
Equation and Graph Degree Odd Leading x-intercept(s) y-intercept
Degree? Coefficient

a) f(x) = (x - 2)(x – 2) = (x – 2)2

I n 2 even 210 0,4

r
v
 b) f(x) = (x + 1)(x – 2)2

40 410

I
3 odd 2,0
My
c) f(x) = -(x - 1)(x + 3)2
o
9,0
th odd
3 1,0
s

Note: The order of a zero is determined by looking at the equation of the polynomial function in factored form. The
exponent on the factor in the equation tells us the order of the zero. If the order of the zero is greater than 1, then
the zero is repeated.

 What happens to the sign of f(x) near each zero of order 2?

It stays thesame
 What takes place on the graph at each zero of order 2?


A turningpoint
What does the graph of the function “look like” near each zero of order 2?

It looks like a parabola

4. By considering the degree of the function, the x-intercepts, and the sign of the leading
coefficient, sketch a graph of the following functions WITHOUT desmos.

a) f(x) = -(x – 3)2(x + 1) b) f(x) = x2(x – 4)2

ti

f
egativeL.C

c I s
n
y int
Yj
I 1,0 10 9
x ints
14.01
1901
y int
Cao

odddegree oppositeend
evendegree sameend
behaviours
behaviours
positive L C opensup
5. Fill in the following table.

Even or Sign of
Equation and Graph Degree Odd Leading x-intercept(s) y-intercept
Degree? Coefficient

a) f(x) = (x - 1)(x – 1)(x – 1) = (x – 1)3

3 odd 110 Lord

b) f(x) = (x + 1)(x - 3)3

Hid 01 27
a
4 even 13,0

c) f(x) = -(x – 1)2(x + 2)3

g
g g
it p
g

 What happens to the sign of f(x) near each zero of order 3?

It changes
 What takes place on the graph at each zero of order 3?

It bends
 What does the graph of the function “look like” near each zero of order 3?

Lookslike a cubic
6. Conclusions
 x ints
The zeroes of a polynomial function correspond to the __________________ of the graph.


x ints y int
The graph of a polynomial function can be sketched using the _________________________,

sign of the LC
______________________ and ___________________________.
degree

1,315
The graph of a polynomial function changes sign at zeroes that are of order ________________

and do not change sign at zeroes of order __________________.

2,46
 n
A polynomial function of degree n has a maximum of ____________ zeroes/x-intercept(s).
 7. By considering the degree of the function, the x-intercepts, and the sign of the leading coefficient,
sketch a graph of the following functions. WITHOUT TECHNOLOGY 

a) f(x) = x(x - 1)(x + 3) b) f(x) = -(x - 1)(x – 2)2(x + 5)

xints
13,01

XI
i
yint

MY
am V

c) f(x) = (x + 1)2(x – 4)2 d) f(x) = - (x + 1)2(x - 3)3

n sa

e in Me
u r

e) f(x) = (x + 3)(x + 1)(x – 4)2 f) f(x) = (x + 1)3(x + 2)

aus

ien t
It