# 5.2 Power functions and polynomial functions  (Page 7/19)

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## Key equations

 general form of a polynomial function $f\left(x\right)={a}_{n}{x}^{n}+...+{a}_{2}{x}^{2}+{a}_{1}x+{a}_{0}$

## Key concepts

• A power function is a variable base raised to a number power. See [link] .
• The behavior of a graph as the input decreases beyond bound and increases beyond bound is called the end behavior.
• The end behavior depends on whether the power is even or odd. See [link] and [link] .
• A polynomial function is the sum of terms, each of which consists of a transformed power function with positive whole number power. See [link] .
• The degree of a polynomial function is the highest power of the variable that occurs in a polynomial. The term containing the highest power of the variable is called the leading term. The coefficient of the leading term is called the leading coefficient. See [link] .
• The end behavior of a polynomial function is the same as the end behavior of the power function represented by the leading term of the function. See [link] and [link] .
• A polynomial of degree $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}n\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ will have at most $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}n\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ x- intercepts and at most $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}n-1\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ turning points. See [link] , [link] , [link] , [link] , and [link] .

## Verbal

Explain the difference between the coefficient of a power function and its degree.

The coefficient of the power function is the real number that is multiplied by the variable raised to a power. The degree is the highest power appearing in the function.

If a polynomial function is in factored form, what would be a good first step in order to determine the degree of the function?

In general, explain the end behavior of a power function with odd degree if the leading coefficient is positive.

As $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ decreases without bound, so does $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}f\left(x\right).\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ As $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ increases without bound, so does $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}f\left(x\right).$

What is the relationship between the degree of a polynomial function and the maximum number of turning points in its graph?

What can we conclude if, in general, the graph of a polynomial function exhibits the following end behavior? As $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x\to -\infty ,\text{\hspace{0.17em}}f\left(x\right)\to -\infty \text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ and as $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x\to \infty ,\text{\hspace{0.17em}}f\left(x\right)\to -\infty .\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$

The polynomial function is of even degree and leading coefficient is negative.

## Algebraic

For the following exercises, identify the function as a power function, a polynomial function, or neither.

$f\left(x\right)={x}^{5}$

$f\left(x\right)={\left({x}^{2}\right)}^{3}$

Power function

$f\left(x\right)=x-{x}^{4}$

$f\left(x\right)=\frac{{x}^{2}}{{x}^{2}-1}$

Neither

$f\left(x\right)=2x\left(x+2\right){\left(x-1\right)}^{2}$

$f\left(x\right)={3}^{x+1}$

Neither

For the following exercises, find the degree and leading coefficient for the given polynomial.

$-3x{}^{4}$

$7-2{x}^{2}$

Degree = 2, Coefficient = –2

$x\left(4-{x}^{2}\right)\left(2x+1\right)$

Degree =4, Coefficient = –2

${x}^{2}{\left(2x-3\right)}^{2}$

For the following exercises, determine the end behavior of the functions.

$f\left(x\right)={x}^{4}$

$\text{As}\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x\to \infty ,\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\text{\hspace{0.17em}}f\left(x\right)\to \infty ,\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\text{as}\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x\to -\infty ,\text{\hspace{0.17em}}f\left(x\right)\to \infty$

$f\left(x\right)={x}^{3}$

$f\left(x\right)=-{x}^{4}$

$\text{As}\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x\to -\infty ,\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\text{\hspace{0.17em}}f\left(x\right)\to -\infty ,\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\text{as}\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x\to \infty ,\text{\hspace{0.17em}}f\left(x\right)\to -\infty$

$f\left(x\right)=-{x}^{9}$

$\text{As}\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x\to -\infty ,\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\text{\hspace{0.17em}}f\left(x\right)\to -\infty ,\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\text{as}\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x\to \infty ,\text{\hspace{0.17em}}f\left(x\right)\to -\infty$

$f\left(x\right)=3{x}^{2}+x-2$

$f\left(x\right)={x}^{2}\left(2{x}^{3}-x+1\right)$

$\text{As}\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x\to \infty ,\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\text{\hspace{0.17em}}f\left(x\right)\to \infty ,\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\text{as}\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x\to -\infty ,\text{\hspace{0.17em}}f\left(x\right)\to -\infty$

$f\left(x\right)={\left(2-x\right)}^{7}$

For the following exercises, find the intercepts of the functions.

$f\left(t\right)=2\left(t-1\right)\left(t+2\right)\left(t-3\right)$

y -intercept is $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\left(0,12\right),\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ t -intercepts are

$g\left(n\right)=-2\left(3n-1\right)\left(2n+1\right)$

$f\left(x\right)={x}^{4}-16$

y -intercept is $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\left(0,-16\right).\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ x -intercepts are $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\left(2,0\right)\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ and $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\left(-2,0\right).$

$f\left(x\right)={x}^{3}+27$

$f\left(x\right)=x\left({x}^{2}-2x-8\right)$

y -intercept is $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\left(0,0\right).\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ x -intercepts are $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\left(0,0\right),\left(4,0\right),\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ and

$f\left(x\right)=\left(x+3\right)\left(4{x}^{2}-1\right)$

## Graphical

For the following exercises, determine the least possible degree of the polynomial function shown.

sebd me some questions about anything ill solve for yall
how to solve x²=2x+8 factorization?
x=2x+8
Manifoldee
×=2x-8 minus both sides by 2x
Manifoldee
so, x-2x=2x+8-2x
Manifoldee
then cancel out 2x and -2x, cuz 2x-2x is obviously zero
Manifoldee
so it would be like this: x-2x=8
Manifoldee
then we all know that beside the variable is a number (1): (1)x-2x=8
Manifoldee
so we will going to minus that 1-2=-1
Manifoldee
so it would be -x=8
Manifoldee
so next step is to cancel out negative number beside x so we get positive x
Manifoldee
so by doing it you need to divide both side by -1 so it would be like this: (-1x/-1)=(8/-1)
Manifoldee
so -1/-1=1
Manifoldee
so x=-8
Manifoldee
Manifoldee
so we should prove it
Manifoldee
x=2x+8 x-2x=8 -x=8 x=-8 by mantu from India
mantu
lol i just saw its x²
Manifoldee
x²=2x-8 x²-2x=8 -x²=8 x²=-8 square root(x²)=square root(-8) x=sq. root(-8)
Manifoldee
hii
Amit
how are you
Dorbor
well
Biswajit
can u tell me concepts
Gaurav
Find the possible value of 8.5 using moivre's theorem
which of these functions is not uniformly cintinuous on (0, 1)? sinx
which of these functions is not uniformly continuous on 0,1
solve this equation by completing the square 3x-4x-7=0
X=7
Muustapha
=7
mantu
x=7
mantu
3x-4x-7=0 -x=7 x=-7
Kr
x=-7
mantu
9x-16x-49=0 -7x=49 -x=7 x=7
mantu
what's the formula
Modress
-x=7
Modress
new member
siame
what is trigonometry
deals with circles, angles, and triangles. Usually in the form of Soh cah toa or sine, cosine, and tangent
Thomas
solve for me this equational y=2-x
what are you solving for
Alex
solve x
Rubben
you would move everything to the other side leaving x by itself. subtract 2 and divide -1.
Nikki
then I got x=-2
Rubben
it will b -y+2=x
Alex
goodness. I'm sorry. I will let Alex take the wheel.
Nikki
ouky thanks braa
Rubben
I think he drive me safe
Rubben
how to get 8 trigonometric function of tanA=0.5, given SinA=5/13? Can you help me?m
More example of algebra and trigo
What is Indices
If one side only of a triangle is given is it possible to solve for the unkown two sides?
cool
Rubben
kya
Khushnama
please I need help in maths
Okey tell me, what's your problem is?
Navin
the least possible degree ?