1.
5 Polynomial Functions and Complex Zeros Name ______________________
AP Precalculus
𝐙𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
Given a polynomial function 𝑝(𝑥), if 𝑝(𝑎) = 0, then 𝑎 is a zero or root of 𝑝(𝑥).
If 𝑎 is a real number, then if 𝑥 = 𝑎 is a zero of 𝑝, then (𝑥 − 𝑎) is a linear factor of 𝑝.
𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐙𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐬 (𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲)
If a linear factor (𝑥 − 𝑎) is repeated 𝑛 times, the corresponding zero of the polynomial has a multiplicity 𝑛.
Typically, we know that the graph of a polynomial passes ________ the zeros on the graph. However, when a zero
has a multiplicity greater than 1, the graph will behave differently near the zero.
The function 𝑦 = −.01(𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 + 1)3 (𝑥 − 3)2 is graphed to the right.
Notice the behavior around the zeros of the function.
𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲
The multiplicity of a zero is the __________ of its factor.
We can include the multiplicity when we list the zeros:
𝑥 = −1, 𝑥 = 1 (mult. 3), 𝑥 = 3 (mult. 2)
At 𝑥 = 3, the multiplicity is 2. The graph of the polynomial is tangent
to the 𝑥 axis (the graph bounces off the 𝑥 axis).
The graph of a polyomial will always be tangent to the 𝑥 axis at any zero with an 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 multiplicity.
𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟏: For each of the following polynomials, determine the degree of the polynomial, find all real zeros, and
state the multiplicity for each zero.
a) 𝑓(𝑥) = −2𝑥 3 (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 4)2 b) 𝑔(𝑥) = 3(𝑥 2 − 4)(𝑥 − 2)4 c) 𝑦 = (𝑥 3 − 𝑥 2 − 6𝑥)(𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 12)
𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬
Some polynomials have roots that contain an imaginary number.
This means you will ______ see them on the graph.
The graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 1 is shown to the right.
To find the zeros of 𝑓(𝑥), we set 𝑥 2 + 1 = 0.
𝑥 2 = −1
𝑥 = ±√−1 = ±𝑖
𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠: All imaginary roots come in _________. If 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖 is a root of 𝑓(𝑥), then so is ___________.
These are called 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐬.
𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟐: Determine the conjugate of the following complex numbers.
a. 4𝑖 b. −𝑖 c. 2 − 3𝑖 d. −4 + 2𝑖
𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐥𝐠𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚
A polynomial of degree 𝑛 has exactly 𝑛 complex zeros when counting multiplicities.
𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟑: The graph of the polynomial function 𝑓(𝑥) is shown in the figure above. It is known that 𝑥 = 𝑖√3 is
a zero of 𝑓. If 𝑓 has degree 𝑛, what is the least possible value of 𝑛?
𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬
𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫
When we write “𝑓(𝑥)”, we are referring to the ___-value on
the graph of 𝑓(𝑥).
𝑓(𝑥) > 0 means the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) is _________ the __-axis
𝑓(𝑥) < 0 means the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) is _________ the __-axis
Consider the function 𝑓(𝑥) above.
a) Where does 𝑓(𝑥) = 0? b) Where is 𝑓(𝑥) > 0? c) Where is 𝑓(𝑥) ≤ 0?
𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 (𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬)
• Rearrange the inequality so that it is of the form: 𝑓(𝑥) < 0, 𝑓(𝑥) > 0, 𝑓(𝑥) ≤ 0, or 𝑓(𝑥) ≥ 0
• Factor and find zeros by solving f (x) = 0.
• Create a sign chart:
o Use the critical numbers to divide the real number line into regions.
o Test each region by evaluating the original inequality using any number within the region.
o Interpret the sign chart
𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄: Be sure to write your answer in 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 and think about the 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬!
𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟒: Solve (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 4) > 0 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟓: Solve (𝑥 + 2)2 (𝑥 − 5) ≤ 0
𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟔: 𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 ≥ 0 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟕: 𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 < −12
To sketch a graph:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en2ctMSVNEI
1) Use the leading term and degree of the polynomial to determine end behavior.
2) Factor to find x-intercepts. Determine if the graph crosses or touches the x-axis at each x-intercept.
3) Use additional test points for accuracy. You also can use the number line to find the intervals on which the
graph of f(x) is above and below the x-axis.
1. a) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 3)2 b) 𝑓(𝑥) = 4𝑥 3 + 19𝑥 2 + 28𝑥 + 12
𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐝𝐝 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐎𝐝𝐝 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
An even function is symmetric over the 𝑦 axis. An odd function is symmetric about the origin.
𝑓(−𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑔(−𝑥) = −𝑔(𝑥)
𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟕: Determine if the following polynomials are even, odd, or neither.
a) ℎ(𝑥) = 2𝑥 4 − 𝑥 2 + 5 b) 𝑘(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 − 1
𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟖: Determine whether the function graphed below is even, odd, or neither.
a.
𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟗: The given function is only drawn for 𝑥 ≥ 0. Complete the function for 𝑥 < 0 with the following conditions:
a. The function is EVEN b. The function is ODD
𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟏𝟎: Certain values of 𝑔(𝑥) are given in the table. Given that 𝑔(𝑥) is odd,
fill in the missing values of the table.
