NickT.

Algebra2/5
Effi
January14,2014
MiniProjectonPolynomials

Work:
PolynomialA:
Zeros(xintercepts):(1,0),(10,0)
Scalar:(3/22)
Factoredform:y=(3/22)(x1)(x10)
Minimum1:x=5.5,y=2.8
Maximum:N/A
Expandedformwork:
y=(3/22)(x1)(x10)
y=(3/22)(x211x+10)
y=(3/22)x2(3/2)x+(15/11)
FinalExpandedform:y=(3/22)x2(3/2)x+(15/11)
Matchesfactoredformongraph?:Yes

PolynomialB:
Zeros(xintercepts):(9.5,0),(3.5,0),(6.5,0)
Scalar:(3/183)
Factoredform:y=(3/183)(x+9.5)(x3.5)(x6.5)
Minimum:x=5,y=0.5

Maximum:x=4.8,y=7.2
Expandedformwork:
y=(3/183)(x+9.5)(x3.5)(x6.5)
y=(3/183)(x23.5x+9.5x33.25)(x6.5)
y=(3/183)(x2+6x33.25)(x6.5)
y=(3/183)(x36.5x2+6x239x33.25x+216.125)
y=(3/183)(x3()x272.25x+216.125)
y=(3/182)x3(1/122)x2(289/244)x+(1729/488)
FinalExpandedform:y=(3/182)x3(1/122)x2(289/244)x+(1729/488)
Matchesfactoredformongraph?:Yes

ZerosandLocalMinimum/Maximum:

Therearetwonecessaryaspectsusedtofindanequationforaplottedpolynomial:the
zerosandlocalminimum/localmaximum.HereIendeavortoexplainbothoftheseapproaches.
Ialsoprovideexamples.

Azeroofapolynomialfunctionisthecoordinatesorlocationofwherethepolynomial
interceptsorcrossesthexaxis(i.e.,horizontalline)onacoordinateplane(i.e.,xygrid).Ifa
polynomialcrossesthexaxismultipletimes,therearemultiplezeros.Inthissituation,multiple
zerosexistbecausetherearemultiplecoordinates.IfyoulookatPolynomialBonthe
accompanyinggraph,youseethatthelinecrossesthexinterceptat(9.5,0),(3.5,0),(6.3,0).
Thesearethezeros.

Thenextessentialpartisfindingthelocalminimumand/ormaximumofyourpolynomial.
Thelocalmaximum(orminimum)oftheturningpoint(thatisthecurve)istheycoordinateand
isthehighest(orlowest)pointcomparedtoallnearbypoints.

Tofindthelocalminimum/maximumitisnecessarytofindapoint(thatiscoordinate)
onthearchofthecurve.Morethanlikely,thepointdoesntliedirectlyonagridintersection,soit
willbenecessarytouseagraphingcalculator.TheTI84Plusisidealforthisprocedure,butany
graphingcalculatorwilldo.

Tographapolynomial(intheexamplebelow,PolynomialA),youneedtowritethezeros
infactoredform.Todothis,takeeachofthexcoordinatesandsubtractthemfromx,multiply
thembyeachother,andmakethewholeequationequaltoy.InPolynomialA,thezerosare:
(1,0),and(10,0).Thisiswhatitlookslikewritteninfactoredform:

y=(x1)(x10)

Ifyouhaveazerothathasanegativevalue(1,0or2,0forexample),youusethe
oppositeoperation.Usingtheoppositemeansthatapolynomialwithzeros(xintercepts)of
(1,0),and(2,0)iswrittenas:

y=(x+10)(x+2)

Thisnewequationcannowbeenteredintothecalculator.Onceyouvegraphedthe
polynomial,youcanusetheCalculatefeature.Thesestepsareexplainedbelow.

UsingaTI84Plus(oranyothergraphingcalculator),completethefollowingsteps:
1.)PressY=
2.)Enteryourpolynomialinfactoredform
3.)PressGraphtomakeyourpolynomialvisibleinyourcalculator'swindow
4.)Press2NDandthenCALC

5.)Selectwhichyouwouldliketocalculate(MinimumorMaximum)
6.)Movethecursortothelowerleftsideofthecurve(usingthearrowkeys)and
pressENTER.
7.)Movethecursortothelowerrightsideofthecurve(usingthearrowkeys)and
pressENTER.
8.)Movethecursortoyourbestapproximateguessofwherethehighest(or
lowest)pointisandpressENTER
9.)Recordthegivenvalues.

Followingtheabovesteps,youshouldget(5.5,2.8)forthelocalminimum.