Polynomial Functions

5-1

Vocabulary

Review
1. Write S if the expression is in standard form. Write N if it is not.

5 1 7x 2 13x 2 47y 2 2 2y 2 1 3m2 1 4m

Vocabulary Builder
polynomial
polynomial (noun) pahl ah NOH mee ul
2
3t  rt  r 3
Related Words: monomial, binomial, trinomial monomials

Definition: A polynomial is a monomial or the sum of monomials.

Use Your Vocabulary

Copyright © by Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

2. Circle the polynomial expression(s).
3 3x 2 2 5x 1 2
2t 4 2 5t 1 t 7g 3 1 8g 2 2 5 x

3. Circle the graph(s) that can be represented by a polynomial.

y y y

x x x

Write the number of terms in each polynomial.

4. 6 2 7x 2 1 3x 5. 4b 5 2 3b4 1 7b 3 1 8b 2 2 b 6. 3qr 2 1 q 3r 2 2 q2r 1 7

Chapter 5 118
 The degree of a polynomial function affects the shape of its graph and determines the
maximum number of turning points, or places where the graph changes direction. It
affects the end behavior, or the directions of the graph to the far left and to the far right.
A function is increasing when the y-values increase as x-values increase. A function is
decreasing when the y-values decrease as x-values increase.

Key Concepts Polynomial Functions

y 5 4x 4 1 6x3 2 x y 5 2x 2 1 2x
y y
2
2 x
x O
2 O 2

End Behavior: Up and Up End Behavior: Down and Down

Turning Points: (21.07, 21.04), (20.27, 0.17), Turning Point: (1, 1)
and (0.22, 20.15)
The function is increasing when x , 1 and is
The function is decreasing when x , 21.07 and decreasing when x . 1.
20.27 , x , 0.22. The function increases when
21.07 , x , 20.27 and x . 0.22.

y 5 x3 y 5 2x3 1 2x
y y
2
x 2
O x
Copyright © by Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

2 2
2 O

End Behavior: Down and Up End Behavior: Up and Down

Zero turning points. Turning Points: (20.82, 21.09) and (0.82, 1.09)
The function is increasing for all x. The function is decreasing when x , 20.82 and
when x . 0.82. The function is increasing when
20.82 , x , 0.82.

You can determine the end behavior of a End Behavior of a Polynomial Function
polynomial function of degree n from the of Degree n with Leading Term axn
leading term ax n of the standard form.
n Even (n  0) n Odd
a Positive Up and Up Down and Up
a Negative Down and Down Up and Down

119 Lesson 5-1

 Problem 2 Describing End Behavior of Polynomial Functions

Got It? Consider the leading term of y 5 24x 3 1 2x 2 1 7. What is the end
behavior of the graph?
7. Circle the leading term, ax n , in the polynomial.

y 5 24x 3 1 2x 2 1 7

8. In this polynomial, a 5 is positive / negative , and n 5 is even / odd .

9. Circle the graph that illustrates the end behavior of this polynomial.

The end behavior is down The end behavior is down The end behavior is up
and up. and down. and down.

10. Circle the letter of the graph that is continuously decreasing. Underline the letter of
the graph that is increasing and then decreasing only.

Graph A Graph B Graph C

Problem 3 Graphing Cubic Functions

Copyright © by Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

Got It? What is the graph of y 5 2x 3 1 2x 2 2 x 2 2? Describe the graph.
Underline the correct word to complete each sentence.
11. The coefficient of the leading term is positive / negative .
12. The exponent of the leading term is even / odd .
13. The end behavior is down / up and down / up .
14. Circle the graph that shows y 5 2x3 1 2x2 2 x 2 2.

15. The end behavior of y 5 2x3 1 2x2 2 x 2 2 is down / up and down / up , and
there are 1 / 2 / 3 turning points.

Chapter 5 120
 Problem 4 Using Differences to Determine Degree

Got It? What is the degree of the polynomial function that generates the data
x y
shown in the table at the right?
3 23
16. Complete the flowchart to find the differences of the y-values.
2 16
23 16 15 10 13 12 29 1 15
0 10
1 13
1st differences 39 1 5 linear
2 12
3 29
2nd differences quadratic

3rd differences cubic

4th differences quartic

17. The degree of the polynomial is .

Lesson Check • Do you UNDERSTAND?

Vocabulary Describe the end behavior of the graph of y 5 22x7 2 8x.
18. Underline the correct word(s) to complete each sentence.
Copyright © by Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

The value of a in 22x7 is positive / negative . The exponent in 22x7 is even / odd .
The end behavior is up and up / down and up / up and down / down and down .

Math Success

Check off the vocabulary words that you understand.

polynomial polynomial function turning point end behavior

Rate how well you can describe the graph of a polynomial function.

Need to 0 2 4 6 8 10 Now I
review get it!

121 Lesson 5-1