MHF4U - Advanced Functions
3.1 Exploring Polynomial Functions
A Polynomial Functions Ex 1. Verify if the following expressions are or not
polynomial functions.
A polynomial function y f (x) is defined by:
a) f ( x) 2 x 3 2 x 2
n 1
f ( x) a n x a n1 x
n
... a 2 x a1 x a 0
2
where: b) f ( x) 2 x x 2
a n , a n1 ,...,a 2 , a1 , a0 are real numbers called the
coefficients of the polynomial function
a n is called leading coefficient 1
c) f ( x) x 2
n
a n x is called leading term x
a 0 is called the constant term
n is a non-negative integer that gives the degree
d) f ( x) ( x 1)( x 2) 2
of the polynomial function
Note. The degree of the polynomial function n is the
largest exponent of x
B Order Ex 2. Consider f ( x) x 2 x 3 4 x 2 3 x 4
The terms of a polynomial function can be written in
a) Is this function polynomial? If yes, find the degree,
any order because the addition operation is a
the leading term, the leading coefficient, and the
commutative operation.
constant term
b) write the polynomial function in order of increasing
powers of the variable x
c) write the polynomial function in order of decreasing
powers of the variable x
C Specific Polynomials Ex 3. Identify each polynomial function as constant,
linear, quadratic, cubic, quartic, or quintic.
If n 0 , f ( x) a0 is called constant function.
If n 1 , f ( x) a1 x a0 is called linear function. a) f ( x) 2
If n 2 , f ( x) a 2 x 2 a1 x a0 is called quadratic
b) f ( x) x 2 3
function.
If n 3 , f ( x) a3 x 3 a 2 x 2 a1 x a0 is called cubic
c) f ( x) 2 x 3 3x 2 x
function.
Note. For n 4 we have the quartic function and for d) f ( x) 2 3x
n 5 we have the quintic function.
e) f ( x) x 5 x 3
f) f ( x) 1 x 2 x 4 x
3.1 Exploring Polynomial Functions
© 2018 Iulia & Teodoru Gugoiu - Page 1 of 2
MHF4U - Advanced Functions
D Operations with polynomial functions Ex 4. Consider two polynomial functions
f ( x) 6 x 3x 2 and g ( x) x 2 . Do the required
All the four operations (addition, subtraction,
operations:
multiplication, and division) are defined for polynomial
functions.
a) f ( x) g ( x)
b) f ( x) g ( x)
c) f ( x) g ( x)
d) f ( x) / g ( x)
E y-intercept Ex 5. Find the y-intercept for each polynomial function.
The y-intercept of a polynomial function is equal with a) f ( x) 2
the constant term y int f (0) a0
b) f ( x) x 2 3
c) f ( x) 2 x 3 3x 2 x
d) f ( x) ( x 2 1)( x 2)
e) f ( x) ( x3 2)3
f) f ( x) 2( x 3) 2 ( x 1)5
F Finite Differences Ex 6. Use the information provided bellow and the finite
differences method to find the degree of the polynomial
The nth finite differences of a polynomial function of function and the leading coefficient.
degree n are constant.
This constant c is related to a n and n by: x y 1 y 2 y 3 y 4 y 5 y
-4 -476
c n!an
-3 -134
where n! ( n factorial) is defined by
-2 -10
n! 1 2 3 ... (n 1) n
-1 16
Note: Use “following # minus preceding #” rule to find 0 16
the differences:
1 14
a
2 -14
ba
b 3 -140
cb
4 -484
c
Reading: Nelson Textbook, Pages 124-126
Homework: Nelson Textbook, Page 127: #1, 2, 5
3.1 Exploring Polynomial Functions
© 2018 Iulia & Teodoru Gugoiu - Page 2 of 2
