1. Warm-up:
Determine the left and right-hand behavior of the graph of the polynomial function, then find the x-intercepts (zeros).
y = x3 + 2x2 – 8x
HW: page 227( 1-8, ODD, ODD,63-66, 70, 79a-d)

2. HW Answers: page 227(9-11, 13-22)
9) a. b. c. d.
10) a. b. c. d.
11) a. b. c. d.

3. 13) Falls left Rises right 14) Rises left Rises right
HW Answers: page 227(9-11, 13-22)
13) Falls left Rises right
14) Rises left Rises right
15) Falls left Falls right
16) Falls left Falls right
17) Rises left Falls right
18) Falls left Rises right
19) Rises left Falls right
20) Rises left Rises right
21) Falls left Falls right
22) Rises left Falls right

4. Polynomial Functions of a Higher Degree
Objective:
Use the Leading Coefficient Test to determine the end behavior of graphs of polynomial functions
Find the Zeros of a Function
Determine the number of turning points.
Use the Intermediate Value Theorem
Sketch Polynomials of a higher degree

5. Real Zeros of Polynomial Functions
If y = f (x) is a polynomial function and a is a real number then the following statements are equivalent.
1. a is a zero of f.
2. a is a solution of the polynomial equation f (x) = 0.
3. x – a is a factor of the polynomial f (x).
4. (a, 0) is an x-intercept of the graph of y = f (x).
A turning point of a graph of a function is a point at which the graph changes from increasing to decreasing or vice versa.
A polynomial function of degree n has at most n – 1 turning points and at most n zeros.

6. Factor completely: f (x) = x 4 – x3 – 2x2 = x2(x2 – x – 2)
Example: Find all the real zeros and turning points of the graph of f (x) = x 4 – x3 – 2x2.
Factor completely: f (x) = x 4 – x3 – 2x2 = x2(x2 – x – 2)
= x2(x + 1)(x – 2). y x
The real zeros are x = –1, x = 0, and x = 2.
f (x) = x4 – x3 – 2x2
These correspond to the x-intercepts (–1, 0), (0, 0) and (2, 0).
Turning point
Leading coefficient is (+) so it rises to the right and is even so left side also rise to the left
Turning point
Turning point
Since the degree is four, the graph shows that there are three turning points.

7. Repeated Zeros
If k is the largest integer for which (x – a) k is a factor of f (x) and k > 1, then a is a repeated zero of multiplicity k.
1. If k is odd the graph of f (x) crosses the x-axis at (a, 0).
2. If k is even the graph of f (x) touches, but does not cross
through, the x-axis at (a, 0).
Example: Determine the multiplicity of the zeros of f (x) = (x – 2)3(x +1)4. x y
Zero Multiplicity Behavior 2 3
odd
crosses x-axis at (2, 0) –1 4
even
touches x-axis at (–1, 0)

8. Example: Sketch the graph of f (x) = 4x2 – x4.
1. Write the polynomial function in standard form:
f (x) = –x4 + 4x2
The leading coefficient is negative and the degree is even.
falling to the right, falling towards the left
2. Find the zeros of the polynomial by factoring.
f (x) = –x4 + 4x2 = –x2(x2 – 4) = – x2(x + 2)(x –2) x y
Zeros: x = –2, 2 multiplicity 1 x = 0 multiplicity 2
(–2, 0)
(2, 0)
(0, 0)
x-intercepts: (–2, 0), (2, 0)
crosses through
(0, 0)
touches only
Example continued

9. Example continued: Sketch the graph of f (x) = 4x2 – x4.
3. Since f (–x) = 4(–x)2 – (–x)4 = 4x2 – x4 = f (x), the graph is even and
symmetrical about the y-axis.
4. Plot additional points and their reflections in the y-axis:
(1.5, 3.9) and (–1.5, 3.9 ), ( 0.5, 0.94 ) and (–0.5, 0.94)
5. Draw the graph. x y
(1.5, 3.9)
(–1.5, 3.9 )
(– 0.5, 0.94 )
(0.5, 0.94)

10. Example: Sketch a graph showing all zeros, end behavior, and important test points.

11. Example: Sketch a graph showing all zeros, end behavior, and important test points.

12. The Intermediate Value Theorem
Let a and b be real numbers such that a < b.
If f is a polynomial function such that f(a) ≠ f(b) then in the interval [a, b], f takes on every value between f(a) and f(b).

13. There is a zero Since f(1)= -6 f(3) = 4 We know that for
1< x < 3
There is an x such that
f(x)=0

14. Use the Intermediate Value Theorem to approximate the real zero of
Use the Intermediate Value Theorem to approximate the real zero of f(x) = x3 – x2 + 1 x
f(x) -2 -1 1 2

15. Polynomial Functions of a Higher Degree
Summary:
Use the Leading Coefficient Test to determine the end behavior of graphs of polynomial functions
Find the Zeros of a Function
Determine the number of turning points.
Use the Intermediate Value Theorem
Sketch Polynomials of a higher degree

16. Sneedlegrit: Sketch the graph of f(x) = 3x4 – 4x3
HW: page 227( 1-8, ODD, ODD,63-66, 70, 79a-d)