AP Precalc 1.

4 Polynomial Functions and

Write your questions
and thoughts here! Rates of Change 1.4 Notes

Polynomial
“Poly” means many, or much. A nonconstant polynomial is a function with many terms in
the following form:
𝑝 𝑥 𝑎 𝑥 𝑎 𝑥 𝑎 𝑥 ⋯ 𝑎 𝑥 𝑎 𝑥 𝑎

where 𝑛 is a positive integer and 𝑎 is a real number for each 𝑖 from 1 to 𝑛.

Quick example: 𝑝 𝑥

The leading term is ________ The polynomial has degree _____ The leading coefficient is ______

1. Example from above.

What is the degree of the polynomial? What is the leading coefficient?

Sometimes, the polynomial will not be written in standard form. You have to look at the variables
LARGEST exponent to find the leading term.

2. 𝑓 𝑥 14𝑥 6𝑥 2𝑥 1
What is the degree of the polynomial? What is the leading coefficient?

Local (Relative) Extrema (maxima and minima)

If a polynomial switches from increasing to decreasing, there will be
a ____________, or _____________, ______________ output value.

If a polynomial switches from decreasing to increasing, there will be

a ____________, or _____________, ______________ output value.


An included endpoint of a polynomial with a restricted domain may also
have a local, or relative, extrema. 

x
   



© The Algebros from FlippedMath.com

Write your questions
and thoughts here! Global (Absolute) Extrema (maxima and minima)
Of all local maxima, the greatest is called the global, or absolute, maximum.

Of all local minima, the least is called the global, or absolute, minimum.

Find the extrema and where they occur. If there are none, cross it off and write NONE.
y
 3. Absolute min of _____ when 𝑥



4. Absolute max of _____ when 𝑥



5. Relative min(s) at 𝑥
x
         

6. Relative max(es) at 𝑥




Two Zeros = at least one extremum y



If you have ___________ of a polynomial (nonconstant polynomial),



then there must be at least ______ local extremum between the two x
  
zeros.




7. Let 𝑓 be a polynomial function with values 𝑓 2 0, 𝑓 0 5, 𝑓 4 0, and 𝑓 7 1. Are

there any guaranteed extrema? If so, state where they occur.

Even Degree = Absolute Extrema

If the polynomial has an even degree, there is either an absolute maximum or an absolute
minimum.

Positive leading coefficient means you will have an absolute _______________

Negative leading coefficient means you will have an absolute _______________

© The Algebros from FlippedMath.com

Write your questions 8. Is there an absolute maximum or minimum for each function?
and thoughts here! a. 𝑓 𝑥 3𝑥 2𝑥 5 b. 𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 5 c. 𝑓 𝑥 6𝑥 𝑥 2

Point of Inflection 

A point of inflection occurs at input values where the

rate of change changes from increasing to decreasing 

(or vice versa). This occurs when the graph is changing

from concave up to concave down (or vice versa). x
    



1.4 Polynomial Functions and Rates of Change

AP Precalculus
1.4 Practice
Find the leading coefficient and the degree of each polynomial.
1. 𝑓 𝑥 8𝑥 4𝑥 6𝑥 10 2. 𝑓 𝑥 8𝑥 3𝑥 3. 𝑓 𝑥 5𝑥 6𝑥 𝑥

L.C. _____ Degree: _____ L.C. _____ Degree: _____ L.C. _____ Degree: _____

4. 𝑓 𝑥 3𝑥 10𝑥 8𝑥 1 5. 𝑓 𝑥 5𝑥 9𝑥 𝑥 3𝑥 6. 𝑓 𝑥 9𝑥 2𝑥

L.C. _____ Degree: _____ L.C. _____ Degree: _____ L.C. _____ Degree: _____

Let 𝒇 𝒙 be a polynomial function with the given values. Are there any guaranteed extrema? If so, state where
they occur.
7. 𝑓 1 0, 𝑓 0 6, and 8. 𝑓 0 6, 𝑓 3 2, 𝑓 6 0, 9. 𝑓 5 0, 𝑓 0 5, and
𝑓 6 0. and 𝑓 10 0. 𝑓 5 7.

Is there a global maximum or minimum for each function?

10. 𝑓 𝑥 2𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 6 11. 𝑓 𝑥 3𝑥 5𝑥 1

12. 𝑓 𝑥 6𝑥 3𝑥 4𝑥 2 13. 𝑓 𝑥 4𝑥 10𝑥 7

© The Algebros from FlippedMath.com

 Find the following extrema. If there are none, cross it off and write NONE.

14. Absolute min of _____ when 𝑥

15. Absolute max of _____ when 𝑥

16. Relative min(s) at 𝑥

17. Relative max(es) at 𝑥

18. Absolute min of _____ when 𝑥

19. Absolute max of _____ when 𝑥

20. Relative min(s) at 𝑥

21. Relative max(es) at 𝑥

22. Absolute min of _____ when 𝑥

23. Absolute max of _____ when 𝑥

24. Relative min(s) at 𝑥

25. Relative max(es) at 𝑥

© The Algebros from FlippedMath.com

1.4 Polynomial Functions and Rates of Change 1.4 Test Prep
26. For each of the following polynomials, determine if there is an absolute minimum, absolute maximum, or neither.

a. 𝑓 𝑥 3𝑥 𝑥 5 𝑥 2 b. 𝑔 𝑥 4 𝑥 1 𝑥 3 c. ℎ 𝑥 𝑥 6𝑥 3 2 𝑥

First, we need to find the leading term

by multiplying each individual
leading term from each factor.

27. Calculator active. For 1 𝑡 4, the number of people waiting in line to ride a new rollercoaster at time 𝑡 hours
can be modeled by the function 𝐿 𝑡 0.56𝑡 2.31𝑡 0.264𝑡 1. Based on this model, at what time 𝑡 does
the number of people waiting in line change from increasing to decreasing?

© The Algebros from FlippedMath.com