Talon Hansen

A-2

Graphing Polynomials

Graphing polynomials is not a hard thing to do, it is fairly simple. First off you should know

there are no holes or breaks in the graph and there are no sharp corners in the graph. The graphs

of polynomials will always be nice smooth curves. Also, the bumps on the graph where the graph

changes direction will go from increasing to decreasing or decreasing to increasing (Also called

Turning points). An example is shown below:

http://www.ma thportal.org/math-
tests/polynomials-tests/tests-
in-graphing- polynomials.php

Now how to find out how to make the

graph out of a polynomial equation. First off

identify which type of equation is being

used: Factored form or expanded form. This

will help you determine the X and y intercepts and the degree for the right equation. To find the

X-Intercepts for factored form you find the roots of the equation: a(x-r)(x-r2)(x-r3), the r,r2, and

r3 are the roots. For expanded using this example: f(x) = 2x4 9x3 21x2+ 88x + 48: Use the

rational root theorem to find the x-intercepts of the equation, they are x = 3, x = 1/2, and x = 4.

The y-intercept is always the constant term of the polynomial in this example, y = 48. If no

constant term is written, the y-intercept is 0. If the degree of the polynomial is even and the

leading coefficient is positive, both ends of the graph point up. If the degree is even and the

leading coefficient is negative, both ends of the graph point down. If the degree is odd and the
leading coefficient is positive, the left side of the graph points down and the right side points up.

If the degree is odd and the leading coefficient is negative, the left side of the graph points up

and the right-side points down.

Take the example x^32x^23x, so as we see the degree of the polynomial function is odd and

the leading coefficient is positive, and the degree of the polynomial is 3 and there would

be 3 zeros for the functions. So, the Xs are: x=1,0 and 3. So the graph should look like this:

This is a simpler example, there are a lot more complicates ones out there like this:
z^33z^2+6z4=0

The main topic that graphing of polynomials could be used for are: roots and factors of

polynomials. Obviously for the roots and factors, you use the roots to help graph the polynomial

itself without the roots what is it, and you use the factor for basically the whole thing, it will

show the end behavior of the graph, the roots, the x intercepts, and all of the information that you

need to graph it.

Polynomials are used a lot in real life situations and even other branches of science and math.

polynomials are used in physics to describe the trajectory of projectiles. Polynomial integrals

(the sums of many polynomials) can be used to express energy, inertia and voltage difference,

and thats only 2 examples when used in physics. Companies can also use polynomials to model

markets, as in to see how raising the price of a good will affect its sales. For people who work in

industries that deal with physical phenomena or modeling situations for the future, polynomials

come in handy every day. These include everyone from engineers to businessmen