# 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.

How look for the general solution of a trig function
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why two x + seven is equal to nineteen.
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Othman
2x + 7 =19
humberto
2x +7=19. 2x=19 - 7 2x=12 x=6
Yvonne
because x is 6
SAIDI
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4x=3-2 4x=1 x=1+4 x=5 5x
Olaiya
hi can you give another equation I'd like to solve it
Daniel
what is the value of x in 4x-2+3
Olaiya
if 4x-2+3 = 0 then 4x = 2-3 4x = -1 x = -(1÷4) is the answer.
Jacob
4x-2+3 4x=-3+2 4×=-1 4×/4=-1/4
LUTHO
then x=-1/4
LUTHO
4x-2+3 4x=-3+2 4x=-1 4x÷4=-1÷4 x=-1÷4
LUTHO
A research student is working with a culture of bacteria that doubles in size every twenty minutes. The initial population count was  1350  bacteria. Rounding to five significant digits, write an exponential equation representing this situation. To the nearest whole number, what is the population size after  3  hours?
v=lbh calculate the volume if i.l=5cm, b=2cm ,h=3cm
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Peya
can you help me on this topic of Geometry if l help you
litshani
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the indicated sum of a sequence is known as