Unit 1: Polynomial Functions

1.0 Prerequisite Skills

Function Notation
Ex 1: Determine each value for the function, f ( x) x 2 3 x 4 .
a) f(2)

c) f(1/4)

b) f(-1)

d) f(a+1)

Equation of a Line
Ex 2: Determine the equation of a line:
a)
with slope -2/3 that passes through (5,-2).

b)

that passes through the points (2,3) and (-1,-12).

c)

with x-intercept 5 and y-intercept -8.

Slope and y-intercept of a Line

Ex 3: State the slope and y-intercept of each line.
a)
3y = 9 - 6x

b)

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2x + 8y 3 =0

1-1

Finite Differences
Ex 4: Use finite differences to determine if each function is linear, quadratic, or neither.
a)
x
y
First difference
Second
difference
-2
1
-1
-2
0
-3
1
-2
2
1
3
6
4
13

b)

-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3

20
3
-2
-1
0
-5
-22

First difference

Second
difference

Transformations
Ex 5: State the transformations that are applied to the function y=f(x) resulting in the given
transformed function.
a) y=f(x-3)+2

b) y=-2f(0.5x)

c) y=0.5f(-3x)

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Domain and Range

Ex 6: Sketch each graph and state the domain and range.
a) y=2(x+1)-3

b) y 2 x 4

c) y 2 x 1

Domain and Range

a)
D:
R:

b)

c)

D:
R:

D:
R:

Quadratic Functions
Ex 7: Determine the equation of a quadratic function has x-intercepts of 8 and -4 and
passing through the point (2,-12).

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Ex 8: Determine the x-intercepts, the vertex, the direction of opening, and the domain and
range of each quadratic function. Then, graph the function.
a) y ( x 4)(2 x 5)

b) y

1
( x 3) 2 9
4

c) y 3 x 2 13 x 10

Homework: pp 2-3#1-12

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Unit 1: Polynomial Functions

1.1 Power Functions
POWER FUNCTION
Power Function - a function of the form f ( x) ax n where a 0 and n is a positive integer

a power function is the simplest type of polynomial function and has the form
f ( x) ax n where x is a variable, a is a real number, and n is a whole number.

Power functions have similar characteristics depending whether their degree is even or odd.
Even-degree power functions have line symmetry in the y-axis. Odd-degree power functions
have point symmetry about the origin (0,0).

POLYNOMIAL EXPRESSION
Polynomial expression is one or more terms where each term is the product of a constant
and a variable raised to a non-negative integral exponent only.
POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS
A Polynomial function is a function defined by a polynomial in one variable written in the form
f ( x) a n x n a n 1 x n 1 ... a1 x a 0 , for example, y 3x 2 ; y x 3 1; y 4

Relation is a function if for every x-value there is only one y value.

the graph of the relation represents a function if it passes the vertical line test (if a
vertical line drawn anywhere along the graph intersects that graph at no more than one
point).

To be a polynomial function, the following conditions must be met:

1. a n 0
2. the coefficients (a n , a n 1 ,..., a1 , a 0 ) are all real numbers.
3. the exponents area all whole numbers

the degree of a polynomial function is based on the highest exponent found in that function

Domain is the set of all first coordinates of the ordered pairs of a function.

Range is the set of all second coordinates of the ordered pairs of a function.

The leading coefficient of a polynomial function is the constant belong to the power with the
highest exponent.

the end behaviour of the graph is the behaviour of the y-values as x increases (that is, as x
approaches positive infinity, written as x ) and as x decreases (that is, as x approaches
negative infinity, written as x ) .

a graph has a line of symmetry if there is a line x=a that divides the graph into two parts
such that each part is a reflection of the other in the line x=a.

a graph has a point of symmetry about a point (a,b) if each part of the graph on one side of
(a,b) can be rotated 180 to coincide with part of the graph on the other side of (a,b).

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Ex 1:

a) Use a graphic calculator to graph the following functions on graph paper.

b) State the degree and name of each function.

Function

Degree

y 1
yx

Name of Function

y x2
y x3
y x4
y x5
y x6
c) Complete the table.
Key Features of the Graph

y x n , n is odd

y x n , n is even

Domain
Range
Symmetry
End Behaviour

Ex 2: Write each function in the appropriate row of the second column of the table.
Give reasons for your choices.
y x3

y 2x 4

End Behaviour

y 34 x6

y 3x

Function

y 4 x8

y x5

y 12 x7

y 3x10

y 2 x5

Reason

Extends from
Quadrant 3 to 1
Extends from
Quadrant 2 to 4
Extends from
Quadrant 2 to 1
Extends from
Quadrant 3 to 4

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Ex 3: Determine which functions are polynomials, Justify your answer. State the degree and
the leading coefficient of each polynomial function.
Function

Yes/No Reason?

Degree

Leading
Coefficient

f ( x) 2 x 1
g ( x) x 2 3 x 7
h( x ) 4 x 5

y cos X

Ex 4: For each function

i) state the domain and range
ii) describe the end behaviour
iii) identify any symmetry
a) y 2x 2

b) y 0.5x

c) y x 3

ii) extends from quadrant 3 to 4

ii) extends from 3 to 1

ii) extends from 2 to 4

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INTERVAL NOTATION
Sets of real numbers may be described in a variety of ways:
As an inequality, -3 < x 4

In interval notation (-3, 4] Square brackets indicate that the end value is included in the
interval, and round brackets indicate that the end value is not included.

Graphically, on a number line

Ex 5: Complete the chart.

Bracket
Interval

Inequality

Number Line

In Words

The set of all real numbers x such that

x is greater than-3 and less than 5
1 x 4
2 x 6

x is greater than or equal to 1

,3
x0

x is an element of the real numbers

Homework: pp 11-14 #1-12

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Unit 1: Polynomial Functions

1.2 Characteristics of Polynomial Functions
A:
Polynomial Functions of Odd Degree
1. a) Using a graphing calculator, graph each cubic function..
Group A
i) y x 3
ii) y x 3 x 2 4x 4

iii) y x 3 5x 2 3x 9

Group B
i) y x 3

iii) y x 3 5x 2 3x 9

ii) y x 3 x 2 4x 4

b) Complete the chart for the graphs in each group.

End Behaviour

# of max/
min points

# of local
max/min

# of xintercepts

i.
Group A
ii.
iii.
i.
ii.
Group B
iii.
c) Which group of graphs is similar to the graph of

i) y x ?
ii)
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y x ?
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B:
Polynomial Functions of Even Degree
1. a) Using a graphing calculator , graph each quartic function.
Group A

i) y x 4

ii) y x 4 x 3 6x 2 4x 8

iii) y x 4 3x 3 3x 2 11x 4

Group B

i) y x 4

ii) y x 4 5x 3 5x 10

iii) y x 4 3x 3 3x 2 11x 4

b) Complete the chart for the graphs in each group.

End Behaviour

# of max/
min points

# of local
max/min

# of xintercepts

i.
Group A
ii.
iii.
i.
Group B
ii.
iii.
c) Explain which group of graphs is similar to the graph of

i)

y x2 .

ii) y x 2 .

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Ex 1:

Determine the key features of the graphs of each polynomial function. Use these
features to match each function with its graph. State the number of x-intercepts, the
number of maximum and minimum points, and the number of local maximum and minimum
points for the graph of each function. How are these features related to the degree of
the function?
a) f x x 3 2 x

c) h x 2 x 5 7 x 4 3 x 3 18 x 2 5 x 1

b) g x 3 x 4 4 x 3 4 x 2 5 x 5

d) p x 2 x 6 12 x 4 10 x 2 x 10

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Ex 2: Complete the following chart:

Equation

a)

f x x 4 2 x 2 1

b)

g x x 3 3x 2 2 x 5

c)

h x 12 x10 13 x 4 x 2

d)

f x x 3 x

e)

g x 2 x 6 3x 4

f)

h x x 5 3 x

g)

f x x 2 3x 4

h)

g x 2 x 7 3x 3 2 x

i)

h x 3 x 4 2 x 3 3 x 1

j)

f x x 2 x

Degree

Even/Odd
Degree?

Leading
Coefficient

End Behaviour

# of
Turning
Points

Finite Differences
For a polynomial function of degree n, where n is a positive integer, the nth differences
are equal (or constant)
have the same sign as the leading coefficient
are equal to an n 1 ... 2 1, where a is the leading coefficient

Ex 3: Use finite differences to determine

i) the degree of the polynomial function
ii) the sign of the leading coefficient
iii) the value of the leading coefficient

Homework: pp 26-29#1-6, 14-17

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-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3

140
37
8
5
4
5
32

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Unit 1: Polynomial Functions

1.3 Equations and Graphs of Polynomial Functions
Steps for sketching polynomial functions in factored form:
1. Find y-intercept (let x = 0)
2. Find x-intercept(s) (let y = 0) and consider turning point at the x-intercept. (Even orders will
bounce at x-axis, while odd orders will pass through.)
3. Identify the degree and leading coefficient to determine the end behavior.
ODD DEGREE [end behaviours are opposite direction]
positive leading coefficient - graph starts low and ends high
negative leading coefficient - graph starts high and ends low
EVEN DEGREE [ end behaviours are the same direction]
positive leading coefficient graph starts high and ends high
negative leading coefficient - graph starts low and ends low
4. Select test values which are x-values between the x-intercepts or real roots. Test values
help to determine positive and negative regions on the graph and additional points to
supplement sketch.
positive region (the graph above x-axis): f(x) > 0
negative region (the graph below x-axis): f(x) < 0
Example 1:

a) y ( x 1)( x 2)( x 3)

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b) g ( x) 2( x 2) 2 ( x 1)

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c) y ( x 1) 3 ( x 2) 2

Example 2:
Sketch the graph of a polynomial function that satisfies the following conditions:
degree 3, positive leading coefficient, 2 zeros, 2 turning points

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SYMMETRY IN POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS

EVEN FUNCTIONS

The graph of an even function is symmetric in the y-axis, meaning that its graph remains
unchanged when reflected about the y-axis.
An even function f satisfies f(-x) = f(x) for all x in its domain. This means that a line
segment connecting f(x) and f(-x) is a horizontal line.

Examples:
1. a) Complete the table of values and graph each function. Use a graphing calculator to
verify answers.
f(x) = x2
x
f(x)

f(x) = -3x2 + 5
x

-2 -1 0 1 2

f(x) = x4 - 3x2

-2 -1 0 1 2

f(x)

f(x) = x2 - 2x + 1

-2 -1 0 1 2

f(x)

-2 -1 0 1 2

f(x)

b) Which function above is not an even function? Why?

2. a) Determine whether the function is an even function or not. Use a graphing calculator to
help you with your answer.
i) y x 4 x 2

ii)

y x 2 3x 2

iii)

y 2x6 x 2 1

iv)

y x 6 2x 3

b) How can you tell by looking at the equation of a polynomial function whether it is
an even function or not?

3. Determine algebraically [use property f(-x)=f(x)] whether the function is an even function or
not.
a) f ( x) x 4 2 x 2
b) f ( x) 2 x 2 x 1

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ODD FUNCTIONS
The graph of an odd function is symmetric about the origin, meaning that its graph remains
unchanged after rotation of 180 about the origin.
An odd function f satisfies f(-x) = -f(x) for all x in its domain. This means that a line
segment connecting f(-x) and f(x) contains the origin.
Examples:
1. a) Complete the table of values and graph each function. Use a graphing calculator to
verify answers.
f(x) = x3

f(x) = x
x

-2 -1 0 1 2

f(x)

x
f(x)

-2 -1 0 1 2

f(x) = x3 - x
x
f(x)

-2 -1 0 1 2

f(x) = x3 - 2x + 1
x

-2 -1 0 1 2

f(x)

b) Which function above is not an even function? Why?

2. a) Determine whether the function is an odd function or not. Use a graphing calculator to
help you with your answer.
ii) y x 5 3 x 3 2
iii) y x 3 x 2
iv) y x 5 x 3 2 x
i) y x 3 2 x

b) How can you tell by looking at the equation of a polynomial function whether it is an odd
function or not?

3. Determine algebraically [use property f(-x) = -f(x)] whether the function is an odd function
or not.
a) f ( x) 2 x 3 4 x
b) f ( x) x 3 x 1

Homework: pp 39-41#1-14

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Unit 1: Polynomial Functions

1.4 Transformations
TRANSFORMATIONS
The parameters a, k, d, and c in polynomial functions of the form y a[k ( x d )] n c , where n is
a

non-negative integer, correspond to the following transformations:

a corresponds to a vertical stretch or compression and, if a<0, a reflection in the x-axis
k corresponds to a horizontal stretch or compression and, if k<0, a reflection in the y-axis
c corresponds to a vertical translation up or down
d corresponds to a horizontal to the left or right

Ex 1: a) The graph of y x 2 is transformed to obtain the graph of y 2[3( x 1)] 2 2

i) State the parameters and describe the corresponding transformations.
a

ii) Complete the table.

iii) State the domain and Range.
iv) State a mapping that applies transformations to the original power function
Mapping
y x2
y 2x 2
y 2(3 x) 2
y 2(3 x 1) 2 2 Mapping
x
y

2,4 - 2,-8
1,1 - 1,-1
0.0 0,0

1,1 1,1
2,4 2,8
Domain
Range

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Ex 1: b) The graph of y x 3 is transformed to obtain the graph of y 0.5 2 x 3 1.

3

i)

State the parameters and describe the corresponding transformations.

a

ii)
iii)
iv)

y x3

Complete the table.

State the domain and Range.
State a mapping that applies transformations to the original power function
y 0.5 x 3
y 0.5(2 x) 3
y 0.5[2( x 3) 3 1 Mapping
x

Mapping
y

2,4 - 2,-8
1,1 - 1,-1
0.0 0,0
1,1 1,1

2,4 2,8
Domain
Range
v)

Sketch a graph of y 23 x 1 2. and

2

y 0.5 2 x 3 1. on the same graph.

3

Homework: pp 49-52#1-16

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Unit 1: Polynomial Functions

1.5 Slopes of Secants and Average Rate of Change
RATE OF CHANGE
A rate of change is a measure of the change in one quantity (the dependent variable) with
respect to a change in another quantity (the independent variable).
There are two types of rates of change: 1) average and ii) instantaneous.
An average rate of change is a change that takes place over an interval.
Instantaneous rate of change is a change that takes place in an instant.
Ex 1: How can you connect average rate of change and slope?
1. Seismic activity at a certain point on the ocean floor
creates a wave that spreads in a circular pattern over
the calm surface of the ocean. The table shows the
radius of the circular pattern during the first 10 s
as the wave moves outward.
a) Identify the independent variable and the dependent
variable. Justify your choice.

b) Determine

interval.
i) [0,10]

r change in radius

for each time

t
change in time
ii) [0,1]

Time, t (s)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Radius, r (m)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20

iii) [9,10]

c) Graph the data. What type of polynomial function

does the graph represent? Explain.

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d) A secant is a line that connects two points on a curve. Draw a secant on the graph to
connect the pair of points associated with each time interval in part b). What is the
slope of each secant line? State the units of the secant line.

e) What is the relationship between the values found in part b) and the graph? Explain.

2. This table shows the total area covered by the wave

during the first 10 s.
a) Identify the independent variable and the
dependent variable. Justify your choice.

interval.
i) [0,20]

ii) [0,4]

Radius, r (m)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20

iii) [6,12]

iv) [0,2]

v) [14,16]

b) Determine

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change in Area
A

for each radius

r change in radius

Area, A (m)
0
12.57
50.27
113.10
201.06
314.16
452.39
615.75
804.25
1017.88
1256.64

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c) Interpret the values found in part b). State the units for these values.

d) Graph the data. What type of polynomial function

does the graph represent? Explain.

e) On the graph, draw a secant to connect the pair of points associated with each radius
interval in part b). What is the slope of each secant line?

f) What is the relationship between the values found in part b) and the secant lines?
How are these related to the slope of the graph? Explain.

AVERAGE RATE OF CHANGE

The average rate of change between two points
corresponds to the slope of the secant between
the points. For example, the average rate of
change of y with respect to x between the points
P1 x1 , y1 and P2 x2 , y2 is determined as follows:

y
x
change in y

change in x
y y1
2
x2 x1

Average rate of change

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Calculate and Interpret Average Rates of Change From a Graph/Table of Values

Ex 1: Andrew drains the water from a hot tub. The tub holds 1600 L of water. It takes 2 h for
the water to drain completely. The volume V, in litres, of water remaining in the tub at
various times t, in minutes, is shown in the table and graph.
a) Determine the average rate of change for
i) 30 min and 100 minutes
Time
Volume
(min)

(L)

0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120

1600
1344
1111
900
711
544
400
278
178
100
44
10
0

ii) [20. 90]

b) Determine an equation that best represents the model.

Calculate and Interpret Average Rates of Change From an Equation

Ex 2: A rock is tossed upward from a cliff that is 120 m above the water. The height of the
rock above the water is modeled by ht 5t2 10t 120, where h(t) is the height in

metres and t is time in seconds.

a) Determine the average rate of change in height during each of the following
time intervals.
i) [0,1]
ii) [2,3]

b) Consider the graph ht 5t2 10t 120, with secant lines AB and CD. Describe
the relationship between the values in part a), the secant lines, and the graph.

Homework: pp 62-63 #2, 3, 6, 7, 11

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Unit 1: Polynomial Functions

1.6 Slopes of Tangent and Instantaneous Rate of Change
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SLOPE OF SECANTS AND THE SLOPE OF A TANGENT
As a point Q becomes very close to a tangent point P, the slope of the secant line becomes
closer to (approaches) the slope of the tangent line.
Often an arrow is used to denote the word approaches. So, the above statement may be
written as follows:
As Q->P, the slope of secant PQ-> the slope of the tangent at P.
Thus, the average rate of change between P and Q becomes closer to the value of the
instantaneous rate of change at P.
Ex 1:

During Apollo 14 mission, Alan Sheppard hit a golf ball on the Moon. The function models
the height of the golf balls trajectory on the Moon, where h(t) is the height, in metres,
of the ball above the surface of the Moon and t is the time in seconds. How fast was the
ball traveling 6 seconds after the ball was hit?
i) Using a graph:

The height of the golf balls trajectory on the Moon

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ii) Using a table of values:

Time (s)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Height
(m)
0
17.2
32.8
46.8
59.2
70
79.2
86.8
92.8
97.2

iii) Using the equation:

h(t ) 18t 0.8t 2

Homework: pp 62-63 #2, 3, 6, 7, 11

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