Graphing Functions

Graphing Functions
Or: How I learned to stop worrying and love the curve.

TheEngineeringStudent.ca
Things to know...
●
When it comes to polynomial functions, there’s
a lot to know:
– Leading coefficient
– Degree
– Roots (or zeroes)
– Y-intercept
– Multiplicity
●
Understanding these can help you quickly
sketch a graph while only having to plot
relatively few points.
Leading coefficient
●
For a polynomial of the form a x + a x +...+a x + a x+ a ,
n
n
n−1
n−1
2
2
1 0
we have an an known as the “leading coefficient”

● an cannot be zero for a polynomial greater than
degree 1. (A linear function with 0 slope is
called a constant function.)
●
When |a |>1 , the graph is vertically stretched from
n
the x-axis by a factor of |a| units. If 0<|a|<1 , then

there is a vertical compression toward the x-
axis by factor |a| units.
● When an is negative, the graph is reflected
across the x-axis
Leading coefficient cont.
●
Example: f ( x)=x 2 ●
Example: f ( x)=5 x 2
●
Example: f ( x)=−x 2
●
Example:
1 2
f ( x)= x
3
Degree
●
The Fundamental Theorem of Algebra
guarantees that all polynomials have a number
of complex roots corresponding to the
polynomial’s degree. The degree is also the
same as the number of maximum x-intercepts.
●
Thus, a quadratic (degree 2) has two roots. A
cubic (degree 3) has 3, and so on.
●
Note that ‘complex’ numbers can be real only,
or include an imaginary part. Also note that
complex roots involving an imaginary part only
come in pairs. It follows that an odd-numbered
polynomial then has at least one real root.
Degree cont.
●
Degree can also tell you the minimum number
of x-intercepts.
– Even-degree polynomials have a minimum of zero
x-intercepts while odd ones have at least one.
●
Remember: While real roots are x-intercepts, complex
roots with imaginary parts do not fall on the real number
line thus are not seen as x-intercepts on a graph.
●
Turning points are the part of the graph where
the curve changes from increasing to
decreasing, or vice-versa. Both odd and even
degree have the same maximum of turning
points corresponding to the degree number,
subtract 1.
Degree cont. — turning points
●
Odd degree have a minimum of zero turning
points because the ends of the curve go in
opposite directions.
●
Even degree must have at least one turning
point because their ends go in the same
direction.
Zeroes of a polynomial
●
Remember this: ax 2 +bx + c=0 ?
●
Just as a polynomial equation (in the above
case, a quadratic) has solutions (or roots), a
polynomial function has zeroes.
●
A solution is the value of x such that the
equation is zero. For a polynomial function, a
(real) root is where the curve touches the x-
axis.
●
A solution is written as single numbers whereas
zeroes are often expressed as ordered pairs.
Zeroes cont.
●
Of course, a function is a special type of
equation. When you have a function, it could be
written as an equation a x + a x +...+a x + a x+ a =0
n
n
n−1
n−1
2
2
1 0
or as a function f ( x)=a x + a x +...+ a x + a. x +a

n
n
n −1
n−1
2
2
1 0
●
To find the zeroes of a polynomial function, you
solve the equation that equals zero through one
of a number of means (factoring, formulae etc.)
●
The Fundamental Theorem of Algebra
guarantees all polynomials have a # of complex
roots equal to their degree. These may be real
numbers, complex numbers with a real part, or
complex numbers without a real part.
Y-intercept
●
Just as the zeroes are what happen on the
graph when f(x)=0, the y-intercept is what
happens on the graph when x=0.
●
Simply by plugging in 0 to f(x) you can find the
y-intercept, assuming x=0 is in the function’s
domain.
●
Example: f (0)=2(0) + 3 ⇒ f ( 0)=3
2
This function has the y-intercept at (0,3).

●
If you had a rational function (not covered in this
presentation) such that x equalling zero causes
division by zero, then the y-intercept does not exist.
Multiplicity
● When a polynomial function is factored, it is

broken down into factors of varying degrees.
● When you find the zero of each factor, the degree
associated with that factor is also the multiplicity
of the zero.
● E.g.: f ( x)=( x −2)( x −1) ( x +1) is a quartic polynomial with
2
zeroes x=2 , x=1, x=−1 .

So, the multiplicity of x=1 is 2, because the zero
occurs in a squared factor. The others are 1, or
linear.
Multiplicity cont.
● The multiplicity is an important part of sketching

a graph of a function.
– While you can always have a computer do the curve
for you, sometimes you need to do a rough sketch
with only a few points plotted.
● The multiplicity of a zero can tell you how the
graph will behave at the zero. It can pass through
the x-axis (for a linear zero), bounce off it (for a
quadratic or quadratic-like zero) or inflect (for a
cubic or cubic-like zero.)
Multiplicity of 1
(University of Waterloo 2018,

at 00:00:24–00:00:49).
Multiplicity of 2

at 00:00:49–00:01:29).
Multiplicity of 3

at 00:01:29–00:02:17).
A general rule of multiplicity
●
In general:
●
When the degree of the factor is 1, the graph passes
through the zero.
●
When the degree is even, the graph will bounce off the
x-axis at the zero, like a parabola.
●
When the degree is odd and greater than or equal to
3, the graph will inflect, similar to a cubic curve.
●
The effect of a curve bouncing or inflecting at a zero is
exaggerated the greater the degree (multiplicity) of the
factor is.
Sketching a quick graph
f ( x)=(x−2)(x −1) 2( x+ 1)
●
I start by noting the zeroes: (-1, 0), (1, 0) and
(2,0). I also note their multiplicity. At (2,0) and (-1,
0), the curve will be linear and will pass through
the x-axis. At (1,0) the graph will be parabolic and
will bounce off the x-axis.
●
I also note the y-intercept will be at (0, -2).
●
Then, I calculate the function at x-values on either
end of the zeroes.
-2 -1 0 1 2 3
X
f(x)
36 0 -2 0 0 16
Sketching a quick graph cont.
●
With relatively few
points calculated, I can
sketch a decent graph
of this function.
●
Knowing how the curve
behaves at the zeroes
allows me to make
educated guesses
about its shape.
Let’s refer to Desmos...
●
Not bad! This is the
computer-
generated curve of
the same function.
●
Different scales but
the sketch was
reasonably close.
:)
Bibliography
University of Waterloo. 2018. “Graphs of Polynomial

Functions in Factored Form, Lesson Part 2.” CEMC Open
Courseware. Video. 00:04:04.
https://courseware.cemc.uwaterloo.ca/8/assignments/117/2.

Graphing Functions

Uploaded by

Graphing Functions

Uploaded by

Graphing Functions

Or: How I learned to stop worrying and love the curve.

we have an an known as the “leading coefficient”

the x-axis by a factor of |a| units. If 0<|a|<1 , then

or as a function f ( x)=a x + a x +...+ a x + a. x +a

This function has the y-intercept at (0,3).

● When a polynomial function is factored, it is

zeroes x=2 , x=1, x=−1 .

● The multiplicity is an important part of sketching

(University of Waterloo 2018,

(University of Waterloo 2018,

(University of Waterloo 2018,

University of Waterloo. 2018. “Graphs of Polynomial

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