MCR3UZ - Polynomial Functions

Unit 2 - Polynomial Functions Calendar

Day Lesson Homework

1 Investigating Polynomial Functions Worksheet

2 Sketching Polynomial Functions Worksheet

3 Finite Differences Worksheet

4 Long Division Worksheet

5 Factor Theorem Worksheet

6 Sum and Differences of Cubes Worksheet

7 Solving Polynomial Equations and Inequalities Worksheet

8 Rates of Change Worksheet

9 Review Worksheet

10 Test
MCR3UZ Equations and Graphs of Polynomial Functions

Characteristics of Graphs of Polynomial Functions

Polynomial function – A function whose equation is defined by a polynomial in one variable

The general equation is

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎 𝑥 + 𝑎 𝑥 +𝑎 𝑥 +⋯+𝑎 𝑥 +𝑎 𝑥 +𝑎

Degree of a function – the value of the highest exponent of the variable

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 7𝑥 + 7𝑥 + 15

Leading Coefficient –the coefficient of the term with the highest exponent

Increasing – the graph rises going from left to right along the 𝑥-axis

Decreasing – the graph falls going from left to right along the 𝑥-axis

Turning Point – occurs where a function changes from increasing to decreasing or vice versa

Local Maximum – point where the function changes from increasing to decreasing

Local Maximum value – the 𝑦-coordinate of the local maximum

Local Minimum – point where the function changes from decreasing to increasing

Local Minimum value – 𝑦-coordinate of the local minimum

Zeros – aka roots, 𝑥-intercepts

End Behaviour – The behaviour of the 𝑦-values as 𝑥 approaches positive infinity and as 𝑥
approaches negative infinity
1.a) Graph the function 𝑦 = 𝑥(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 1).
b) From the graph, determine
i) the degree of the polynomial function _____________
ii) the sign of the leading coefficient ________________
iii) the 𝑥-intercept(s) ____________________________
iv) the 𝑦-intercept_______________________________

c) i) How can you determine the degree and the sign of the
leading coefficient from the equation?

ii) What is the relationship between the 𝑥-intercepts and the equation of the function?
The 𝑦-intercept and the equation of the function?

2. Graph each function.

a) 𝑦 = (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 3) b) 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 2) (𝑥 + 3)

c) 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 2)
Describe the effect on the graph of a polynomial
function when a factor is repeated
i) an even number of times.

ii) an odd number of times.

3. For each of the following functions, determine the
i) degree – what type of function are you graphing?
ii) sign of leading coefficient – positive or negative?
iii) end behaviour – what quadrant does the function start and end?
iv) 𝑥-intercepts
v) 𝑦-intercept

Use this information to sketch the graph.

a) 𝑦 = −(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 4)(𝑥 + 3) b) 𝑦 = −(𝑥 − 2) (𝑥 − 4)(𝑥 + 3)

c) 𝑦 = −(𝑥 − 2) d) 𝑦 = −(𝑥 − 2) (𝑥 + 3)
4. For each of the following functions, determine the
i) degree – what type of function are you graphing?
ii) sign of leading coefficient – positive or negative?
iii) end behaviour – what quadrant does the function start and end?
iv) 𝑥-intercepts
v) 𝑦-intercept

Use this information to sketch the graph.

a) 𝑦 = 𝑥(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 3) b) 𝑦 = −(𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 − 1)

c) 𝑦 = (𝑥 + 4) (𝑥 − 1) d) 𝑦 = −(𝑥 − 4)(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2)(2𝑥 + 1)

Exercises

1. Match each equation to the most appropriate graph.

a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

I. II.

III. IV.
 V. VI.

VII.

2. Sketch a possible graph of a polynomial function that satisfies the following conditions.

a. A quadratic function with a negative leading coefficient and a zero at of multiplicity .

b. A 5th degree function with a positive leading coefficient, a zero at the origin of order 2, and a zero at of order 3..

c. A quartic function with a positive leading coefficient and two real zeros, and of order 2.

d. A cubic function with a negative leading coefficient and only one zero at and two non-real zeros.

e. A quintic function with a negative leading coefficient, a zero at , and a second zero at of multiplicity 4.

3. Given and :

a. State the degree of each polynomial function.

b. State -intercepts and -intercept of each function.

c. Describe the end behaviour of each function.

d. Graph each function.

4. Sketch a possible graph for each of the following functions.

a.
 b.

c.

d.

e.

5. a. State the equation of a cubic function that has exactly two -intercepts.

b. State the equation of a quartic function that has exactly two -intercepts.

c. State the equation of a quintic function that has exactly two -intercepts.

6. Sketch a possible graph for each function.

a.

b.

c.

7. State the -intercepts of each function and identify at which zeros the value of the function, , changes sign.

a.

b.

c.

8. Identify the intervals in which the following polynomial functions are positive and the intervals in which they are negative.

a.

b.

c.

9. The cubic function has a turning point at .

a. Identify the intervals in which the polynomial function is positive, and those in which it is negative.

b. Consider the polynomial function for some constant . Determine the values of

such that the graph of has

i. three zeros.

ii. two zeros.

iii. one zero.

iv. no zeros.
10. A family of quintic functions has a zero at and turning points tangent to the -axis at and .

a. State the general equation of the family.

b. State the equations of two members of the family that have end behaviour as and as

11. Determine a possible equation for the polynomial function shown below.
MCR UZ Fini e Differences

𝑛!
5!
8!

Fini e Differences

For a polynomial function of degree 𝑛 where 𝑛 is a positive integer the 𝑛 th

differences
- Are equal or constant
- Have the same sign as the leading coefficient
- Constant Difference 𝑑 𝑎 𝑛! 𝑎 𝑛 𝑛 1 𝑛 2 … 2 1 where 𝑎
is the leading coefficient

E ample Use finite differences to determine the following

Y st Differences nd Differences rd Differences th Differences

a the degree of the polynomial

b the sign of the leading coefficient

c the value of the leading coefficient

E ample Calculate the finite different to determine
a the degree of the function
b sign of the leading coefficient
c the value of the leading coefficient

i ii
𝒙
𝒙
2 54
3 36
1 8
2 12
0 0
1 2
1 6
0 0
2 22
1 0
3 36
2 4
4 12
3 18

E ample Determine the finite difference for each

a f ( x) 2x b f ( x) x x3 x2

E ample Determine an equation for a quintic function with eros 2 1 order 2 and
4 order 2 and 𝑦 intercept 64
MCR3UZ Remainder Theorem and Factor Theorem

Use long division to divide 𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 6𝑥 + 2𝑥 − 4 by 𝑥 − 1 and then by 𝑥 + 2.

What is the remainder?

Find the value of 𝑃(1) and 𝑃(−2).

What do you notice?

Remainder Theorem: When a polynomial function 𝑃(𝑥) is divided by 𝑥 − 𝑏, the remainder is _______

and when it is divided by 𝑎𝑥 − 𝑏, the remainder is _______, where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are integers and 𝑎 ≠ 0.

*This theorem allows us to determine the remainder without performing actual division.
Example 1 Find the reminder when 3𝑥 − 2𝑥 + 𝑥 − 5 is divided by 𝑥 + 2.

Example 2 Find the remainder exactly when 𝑥 − 4𝑥 + 2𝑥 − 6 is divided by 2𝑥 − 1.

Example 3 When 𝑥 − 𝑘𝑥 + 17𝑥 + 6 is divided by 𝑥 − 3, the remainder is 12. Find 𝑘.

How do we factor polynomials of degree 3 or higher?

Example: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 8𝑥 + 19𝑥 + 12

Factor theorem: (𝑥 − 𝑏) is a factor of a polynomial 𝑃(𝑥) iff (if and only if) ______________. Similarly,

(𝑎𝑥 − 𝑏) is a factor of 𝑃(𝑥) iff __________

Example 4 Is (𝑥 − 2) a factor of 𝑥 − 7𝑥 + 9𝑥 + 2?
Example 5 a) Find a factor of 𝑥 + 8𝑥 + 19𝑥 + 12

b) Use the factor from a) to fully factor the polynomial 𝑥 + 8𝑥 + 19𝑥 + 12

What happens when we have a leading coefficient that is not 1?

Rational zero theorem: If 𝑃(𝑥) is a polynomial function with integer coefficients and 𝑥 = is a zero of
𝑃(𝑥), where 𝑎, 𝑏 are integers and 𝑎 ≠ 0 then

𝑏 is a factor of the constant term

𝑎 is a factor of the leading coefficient

𝑎𝑥 − 𝑏 is a factor of 𝑃(𝑥)

Example 6 a) List possible factors of 5𝑥 + 3𝑥 − 12𝑥 + 4

b) Find the factor of 5𝑥 + 3𝑥 − 12𝑥 + 4

 c) Factor 5𝑥 + 3𝑥 − 12𝑥 + 4

Example 7 Factor

a) 𝑥 − 𝑥 − 14𝑥 + 24 b) 𝑥 − 4𝑥 + 𝑥 + 6
MCR3UZ Factoring Sum and Difference of Cubes

Sum of Cubes: let’s try to factor x 3  27

Difference of Cubes: let’s try to factor x 3  27

General Rule:

Sum of Cubes: a 3  b 3 

Difference of Cubes: a 3  b 3 
Example 1 Factor
a) x 3  64 b) y 3  125

c) x 3  8 d) 4  108m 3

Example 2 Factor
1
a) 108a 3  1372m 6 b) m 3 y 3 
8

d) 8 x  2   27 x 9
3
c) ( x  3) 3  ( x  2) 3
MCR3UZ Solving Polynomial Equations
Example 1 Solve
a) x  7 x  12  0
2 e) 3 y 2  75  0

b) x 2  15  8 x f) 4  2 x 2  9 x

c) 0  6x2  7x  2 g) x (6 x  11)  10

3
d) 3 x 2  15 x  0 h) ( x  2)  9 x 2
2
i) x 3  4 x 2  12 x  0 l) 3 x 2  10 x  13  0

j) 2x 2  5x  1  0 m) x  1  0
3

k) 0  2x 2  x  3
n) x3  4x  5  0 p) 6 x 3  13 x 2  x  2  0

o) x3  x2  9x  9  0
MCR3UZ Solving Polynomial Inequalities
Solve for 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅

a) 3𝑥 − 2 < 13 b) 2(3 − 𝑥) − 1 ≥ 7

When the equal sign in equation is replaced by >, <, ≤, or ≥, then the equation becomes an inequality.

Linear inequalities can be solved algebraically but quadratic, cubic, etc. can be solved more easily using a
graph or algebraically with an interval table.

Example 1 Solve 𝑥 − 7𝑥 + 12 < 0 graphically and algebraically.

Example 2 Solve 𝑥 − 5𝑥 + 6𝑥 ≥ 0 graphically and algebraically.

Example 3 Solve 𝑥 + 4𝑥 + 𝑥 − 6 < 0 graphically and algebraically.

Example 4 Solve −2𝑥 − 6𝑥 + 12𝑥 + 16 ≤ 0 graphically and algebraically.

MCR3UZ Instantaneous Rates of Change
Recall: Find the slope of the line between the points (2, −4) and (−6, 1)

Recall: The slope is a measure of the ____________ of a line and is also known as the

_______________________________.

Rate of change - a measure of the change in one quantity with respect to a change in another
quantity

Average rate of change - a change that takes place over an interval

Instantaneous rate of change - a change that takes place at a specific instant

When a quantity changes at constant rate, the graph is linear and when the rate of change is

not constant, the graph is not linear. The slope of a _________________ line is constant and is

the same for every part of the curve. For a ______________, some parts are steeper than
others. To determine the rate of change in the second case, it requires us to calculate the
slope(s) for a curve.

How do we find the slope of a curve?

Consider estimating the slope of the graph of the function 𝑦 = 𝑥² at 𝑃(3, 9)

To estimate the slope of the curve at the point 𝑃, we

choose a second point on the curve, 𝑄. Let 𝑄(2, 4). Then:

94
mPQ  5
32

The line 𝑃𝑄 is called a secant. A secant is a line passing

through two points on a curve. We can get a better and
better estimate of the slope as we move 𝑃 and 𝑄 closer
together. For example, Let 𝑄(2.5, 6.25). Then:

9  6.25 2.75
mPQ    5.5
3  2.5 0.5

The closer 𝑄 is to 𝑃, the better the slope of secant 𝑃𝑄 will estimate the slope of the curve at 𝑃.
Using an equation:
Example 1 A rock is tossed upward from a cliff that is 120 𝑚 above the water. The height of
the rock above the water is modeled by ℎ(𝑡) = −5𝑡 + 10𝑡 + 120, where ℎ(𝑡) is
the height in metres and 𝑡is time in seconds.

 a) Calculate the average rate of change in height during each of the following time
intervals:
i)  0,1 ii) 1, 2

iii)  2,3 iv) 3, 4

b) As the time increases, what do you notice about the average rate of change in height
during each 1 second interval? What does it mean?

Recall: An average rate of change is a change that takes place over an interval

Instantaneous rate of change: A change that takes place over an instant (a specific point in
time – for example, the speed you see on the speedometer of a car). This only deals with one
point on the curve:

A tangent line is a line that touches a curve only at one point (called the point of tangency).

2
In this course we will try to approximate the slope of tangent lines.

Consider estimating the slope of the graph of the function 𝑦 = 𝑥² at 𝑃(3, 9)

To estimate the instantaneous rate of change, pick a point

𝑄 on either side of 𝑃 that is very close to P, and find the
slopes of these secants.

3
Example 2 A rock is tossed upward from a cliff that is 120 m above the water. The height of
the rock above the water is modelled by 𝒉(𝒕) = −𝟓𝒕𝟐 + 𝟏𝟎𝒕 + 𝟏𝟐𝟎, where 𝒉(𝒕)
is the height in metres and 𝒕 is time in seconds.

a) Find the average rate of change

during the first second.

b) Find the average rate of change

between 𝟏 and 𝟔 seconds.

c) What is the significance of the signs in parts a) and b)?

d) Find 𝒉(𝟑).

e) Estimate the instantaneous rate of change at 𝟑 seconds.

f) What is the difference between 𝒉(𝟑) and the instantaneous rate of change at 𝟑 seconds?

4
 1. Water is draining from a large tank. After 𝑡 min, there are 150 000 − 7500𝑡 + 𝑡 litres
of water in the tank.

a) Determine the average rate at which the water empties from the tank in the interval
between 5 and 10 minutes.
b) Determine the average rate at which the water empties from the tank in the interval
between 9 and 10 min.
c) Estimate the rate at which the water runs out after exactly 10 min.
d) How much water is in the tank at exactly 10 min?

2. The population, P, of a small town is modelled by the

function,𝑃(𝑡) = −2𝑡 + 55𝑡 + 15𝑡 + 22 000, where 𝑡 =
0 represents the beginning of this year.
a) What is the initial population?
b) What is the population at the end of 10 years?
c) What is the average rate of change over 10 years?
d) Estimate the instantaneous rate of change at the end of
the 10𝑡ℎ year.
e) What is the difference between your answer in b) and
d)?

3. The distance, 𝑑, in metres, that it takes a vehicle to stop from a

speed, 𝑠, in kph can be modelled by the function
𝑑(𝑠) = 0.01𝑠 − 0.25𝑠 + 10.
a) What does the average rate of change represent for this
situation?
b) Determine the average rate of change in the distance of the
vehicle for each interval.
i) 20 to 30 𝑘𝑚/ℎ
ii) 40 to 50 𝑘𝑚/ℎ
iii) 80 to 90 𝑘𝑚/ℎ
c) Describe how the change in stopping distance changes as the speed increases.
d) Find the stopping distance at 70 𝑘𝑚/ℎ.
e) Estimate the instantaneous rate of change at 70 𝑘𝑚/ℎ.

Answers
1. a) −7 485 b) −7 481 c) −7 480 d) 75 100 𝐿
2. a) 22 000 b) 25 650 c) 365 people/year d) 515 people/year
e) b...25 650 is the population after 10 years, d.... at the end of 10 years, the population is
increasing by 515 people per year
3. a) change of stopping distance with respect to a change in speed.
b) i) 0.25 𝑚/𝑘𝑝ℎ ii) 0.65 𝑚/𝑘𝑝ℎ iii) 1.45 𝑚/𝑘𝑝ℎ
c) as the speed increases, the change in stopping distance is positive and increasing
d) 41.5 𝑘𝑚
e) 1.15 𝑚/𝑘𝑝ℎ
5
 1. Water is draining from a large tank. After 𝑡 min, there are 150 000 − 7500𝑡 + 𝑡 litres
of water in the tank.

a) Determine the average rate at which the water empties from the tank in the interval
between 5 and 10 minutes.
b) Determine the average rate at which the water empties from the tank in the interval
between 9 and 10 min.
c) Estimate the rate at which the water runs out after exactly 10 min.
d) How much water is in the tank at exactly 10 min?

2. The population, P, of a small town is modelled by the

function,𝑃(𝑡) = −2𝑡 + 55𝑡 + 15𝑡 + 22 000, where 𝑡 =
0 represents the beginning of this year.
a) What is the initial population?
b) What is the population at the end of 10 years?
c) What is the average rate of change over 10 years?
d) Estimate the instantaneous rate of change at the end of
the 10𝑡ℎ year.
e) What is the difference between your answer in b) and
d)?

3. The distance, 𝑑, in metres, that it takes a vehicle to stop from a

speed, 𝑠, in kph can be modelled by the function
𝑑(𝑠) = 0.01𝑠 − 0.25𝑠 + 10.
a) What does the average rate of change represent for this
situation?
b) Determine the average rate of change in the distance of the
vehicle for each interval.
i) 20 to 30 𝑘𝑚/ℎ
ii) 40 to 50 𝑘𝑚/ℎ
iii) 80 to 90 𝑘𝑚/ℎ
c) Describe how the change in stopping distance changes as the speed increases.
d) Find the stopping distance at 70 𝑘𝑚/ℎ.
e) Estimate the instantaneous rate of change at 70 𝑘𝑚/ℎ.

Answers
1. a) −7 485 b) −7 481 c) −7 480 d) 75 100 𝐿
2. a) 22 000 b) 25 650 c) 365 people/year d) 515 people/year
e) b...25 650 is the population after 10 years, d.... at the end of 10 years, the population is
increasing by 515 people per year
3. a) change of stopping distance with respect to a change in speed.
b) i) 0.25 𝑚/𝑘𝑝ℎ ii) 0.65 𝑚/𝑘𝑝ℎ iii) 1.45 𝑚/𝑘𝑝ℎ
c) as the speed increases, the change in stopping distance is positive and increasing
d) 41.5 𝑘𝑚
e) 1.15 𝑚/𝑘𝑝ℎ