Pre-Calculus

POLYNOMIAL
AND
RATIONAL
FUNCTIONS
 Content
3.1 Quadratic Functions and Models

3.2 Polynomial Functions and Graphs

3.3 Dividing Polynomials

3.4 Real Zeros of Polynomials

3.5 Complex Numbers

3.6 Complex Zeros and the Fundamental

Theorem of Algebra

3.7 Rational Functions

 3.1
Convert the equation from standard form to
Overview vertex form

Graphing Using Vertex form

Finding the Maximum and Minimum

Values of the function.
Linear Functions

A linear function is a function of the form f(x)= ax +b.

The graph of a linear function is a line with slope a and y-intercept b..

Identifying Linear Functions

● f(x) = 2+3x
● g(x) = (1-5x)/4
● k(x) = x(4+3x)
Slope and Rate of Change

For the linear function f(x) = ax + b, the slope of the graph of f and the rate of change of f are both
equal to a, the coefficient of x.

a = slope of graph of f = rate of change of f

Example:
A dam is built on a river to create a reservoir. The water
level f(t) in the reservoir at time t is given by
f(t) = 4.5t + 28
where t is the number of years since the dam was
constructed and f(t) iis measured in feet.
(a) Sketch a graph of f.
(b) What is the slope of the graph?
(c) At what rate is the water level in the reservoir
changing?
Graphing Linear Functions
Let f be the linear function defined by f(x) = 3x+2.

(a) Make a table of values, and sketch a graph.

(b) What is the slope of the graph of f?

Try it!
Making and using Linear Models

Water is being pumped into a swimming pool at the rate of 5 gal per min. Initially, the
pool contains 200 gal of water.

(a) Find a linear function V that models the volume of water in the pool at any time t.

(b) If the pool has a capacity of 600 gal, how long does it take to completely fill the pool?
 ● Graphing Quadratic Functions using
the standard Form
Quadratic Functions And Models
● Maximum and Minimum Values of
Quadratic Functions
● Modeling with Quadratic Functions
Definition
Quadratic Functions

A quadratic function is a polynomial function of degree 2. So a quadratic function is a

function of the form

f(x) = ax²+ bx +c, a≠0

TRY!!!
Convert into vertex form:
Answers
Graphing Quadratic Functions using the standard Form

Example:

Let f(x) = 2x²- 12x + 13

(a) Express f in standard form.
(b) Find the vertex and x- and
y-intercepts of f.
(c) Sketch a graph of f.
(d) Find the domain and range of f.
TRY!!!
Graph the functions using Vertex Form
Finding Maximum and Minimum Values of Quadratic Functions
Maximum and Minimum Values of Quadratic Functions

Example:
Consider the quadratic function

f(x) = - x² + x + 2
(a) Express f in standard form.

(b) Sketch a graph of f.

(c) Find the maximum value of f.
Modeling with Quadratic Functions

Maximum Gas Mileage for a Car:

Most cars get their best gas mileage when traveling at a relatively modest speed. The
gas mileage M for a certain new car is modeled by the function

M(s) = -1/28 s² + 3s - 31, 15≤ s ≤ 70

where s is the speed in mi/h and M is measured in mi/gal. What is the car’s best gas mileage, and at
what speed is it attained?
TRY!!!
Find Maximum and Minimum Values
Answers
 3.2
Graphing Basic Polynomial
Overview

End Behaviour and the Leading Term

Using Zeros to graph a Polynomial

 Polynomial Functions
A polynomial function has all of its variables with
exponents which are positive integers. It is not a
polynomial function if a variable has a negative
exponent or if the exponent is a fraction.
 Basic Features of Graphs of
Polynomial Functions.
• A graph of a polynomial function is
continuous. This means that the graph of
a polynomial function has no breaks, holes
or gaps.
 Transformations

Sketch Graphs of the Following:

Solution:
END BEHAVIOR OF POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS

The behavior of the graph of a function to the far left and far right
is called its end behavior.

Although the graph of a polynomial function may have intervals

where it increases or decreases, the graph will eventually rise or
fall without bound as it moves far to the left or far to the right.

How can we determine the end behavior of a polynomial

function? We look only at the term with the highest degree.
The Leading Coefficient Test
Look for the term with the highest degree.

▪ Is the coefficient greater than or less than 0?

▪ Is the exponent even or odd?

The answers to these questions will help us to

determine the end behavior of the polynomial
function.
If the leading coefficient is positive with an even
degree to its variable, the graph rises to the left and
rises to the right (, ).

Example: f(x) = x²
If the leading coefficient is negative with an even
degree to its variable, the graph falls to the left and
falls to the right (, ).

Example: f(x) = − x²
If the leading coefficient is positive with an odd
degree to its variable, the graph falls to the left and
rises to the right (, ).

Example: f(x) = x³
If the leading coefficient is negative with an odd
degree to its variable, the graph rises to the left and
falls to the right (, ).

Example: f(x) = − x³
Using the Leading Coefficient Test

If the leading coefficient is positive with an

even degree to its variable, the graph rises to
the left and rises to the right (, ).
Using the Leading Coefficient Test
Determine the end behavior of the graph of…

f(x) = x³ + 3x − x − 3

If the leading coefficient is positive with an

odd degree to its variable, the graph falls to
the left and rises to the right (, ).
Using the Leading Coefficient Test
Determine the end behavior of the graph of…

f(x) = − 2x³ + 3x − x − 3

If the leading coefficient is negative with an odd

degree to its variable, the graph rises to the left
and falls to the right (, ).
Using the Leading Coefficient Test

If the leading coefficient is negative with an

even degree to its variable, the graph falls to the
left and falls to the right (, ).
Zeros of Polynomial Functions
• It can be shown that for a polynomial function of
degree n, the following statements are true:

• 1. The function has, at most, n real zeros.

• 2. The graph has, at most, n – 1 turning points.

• Turning points (relative maximum or relative
minimum) are points at which the graph changes
from increasing to decreasing or vice versa.
Zeros of Polynomial Functions
The zeros of a polynomial function are the values of x which
make f(x) = 0. These values are the roots, or solutions of the
polynomial equation when y = 0. All real roots are the x-
intercepts of the graph.

How many turning points does f(x) = x³ + 3x² − x − 3 have?

Find all the zeros of… f(x) = x³ + 3x² − x − 3

Set up the equation: x³ + 3x² − x − 3 = 0 and solve.

 Is there a greatest common factor?

No, so try grouping

Find the greatest common factor of

each set of parentheses

Place the greatest common factors in one set

of parentheses. These two terms will be
distributed over the other two terms.

Solve for zero

Find all the real zeros of f (x) = x 4 – x3 – 2x2.
How many turning points are there?

Factor completely:
f (x) = x 4 – x3 – 2x2 = x2(x + 1)(x – 2).

y
The real zeros are x = –1, x = 0,
and x = 2. 2
(–1, 0) (0, 0)
These correspond to the x
x-intercepts. –2
(2, 0)
Check out the x-intercepts and the
multiplicities. What happens?
f (x) = x4 – x3 – 2x2
 Multiplicities of Zeros
The multiplicity of a zero is the number of times the real
root of a polynomial function results in f(x) = 0.

Example: solve for the zeros of f(x) = x² (x − 2)²

x² (x − 2)² = 0

x² = 0 therefore, x = 0 to the multiplicity of 2

(x − 2)² = 0 therefore x = 2 to the multiplicity of 2

The exponent tells us the multiplicity.

 Multiplicity and x-intercepts
Suppose r is a zero of even multiplicity. Then the graph touches
the x-axis at r and turns around at r.

Suppose r is a zero of odd multiplicity. Then the graph

crosses the x-axis at r.

Regardless of whether a multiplicity is even or odd, the graph

tends to flatten out near zeros with a multiplicity greater than
one.
Find the zeros of…

f(x) = − 4(x + 2)²

Give the multiplicity of each zero. State whether the graph

crosses the x-axis or touches the x-axis and turns around at
each zero.
A strategy for graphing polynomial functions
1. Use the Leading Coefficient Test to determine the graph’s
end behavior.
2. Find x-intercepts.
3. Find the y-intercept. Let x = 0.
4. Check for multiplicities. If the multiplicity is even, the
graph touches the x-axis at r and turns around. If the
multiplicity is odd, the graph touches the x-axis at r. The
graph will flatten out near the x-intercept when the
multiplicity is greater than one.
5. Use the fact that the maximum number of turning points of
the graph is n − 1, where n is the degree of the polynomial
function, to check whether it is drawn correctly.
6. Locate additional points.
 Graphing a Polynomial Function
Let’s graph the function f(x) = x³ + 3x² − x − 3

What is it’s end behavior?

If the leading coefficient is positive with an odd degree to its

variable, the graph falls to the left and rises to the right (, ).

Find all the x-intercepts of… f(x) = x³ + 3x² − x − 3

f(x) = (0)³ + (0)² − (0) − 3

Plot the x-intercepts, the y-intercept, and additional points between
and beyond the x-intercepts.

How many turning points does f(x) = x³ + 3x² − x − 3 have?

All of these zeros are to the multiplicity of one. What does the graph
do at these intercepts? The graph passes through these intercepts.

Sketch the graph.

 3.3
Long Division of Polynomials
Overview

Synthetic Division of Polynomials

The Remainder and Factor Theoram

 3.4
Rational Zeros of Polynomials
Overview

Descartes Rule
TRY!!!
Find the rational zeros of the following and
write in factored form
Answers
 3.5
Arithmetic Operations on Complex
Overview Numbers

Square roots of Negative Numbers

Complex Solution of Quadratic

Equations
TRY!!!
Evaluate the following and write in the form
of a+bi
Answers
TRY!!!
Evaluate the following and write in the form
of a+bi
Answers
TRY!!!
Evaluate the following and write in the form
of a+bi
Answers
 3.7
Rational Functions and Asymptotes
Overview

Graphing Rational Functions

Slant Asymptotes
Asymptote:
An asymptote is a straight line that constantly approaches
a given curve but does not meet at any infinite distance. In
other words, Asymptote is a line that a curve approaches
as it moves towards infinity. The curves visit these
asymptotes but never overtake them.

It may be Vertical or Horizontal.

Vertical Asymptote:

The values on which a function

becomes undefined is known as
Vertical Asymptote.
TRY!!!
Find the Horizontal and Vertical Asymptotes
of the following
Answers