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Study Guides > College Algebra CoRequisite Course

Graphing Polynomial Functions

Learning Outcomes

  • Draw the graph of a polynomial function using end behavior, turning points, intercepts, and the Intermediate Value Theorem.
We can use what we have learned about multiplicities, end behavior, and turning points to sketch graphs of polynomial functions. Let us put this all together and look at the steps required to graph polynomial functions.

How To: Given a polynomial function, sketch the graph

  1. Find the intercepts.
  2. Check for symmetry. If the function is an even function, its graph is symmetric with respect to the y-axis, that is, f(–x) = f(x). If a function is an odd function, its graph is symmetric with respect to the origin, that is, f(–x) = –f(x).
  3. Use the multiplicities of the zeros to determine the behavior of the polynomial at the x-intercepts.
  4. Determine the end behavior by examining the leading term.
  5. Use the end behavior and the behavior at the intercepts to sketch the graph.
  6. Ensure that the number of turning points does not exceed one less than the degree of the polynomial.
  7. Optionally, use technology to check the graph.

Example: Sketching the Graph of a Polynomial Function

Sketch a possible graph for [latex]f\left(x\right)=-2{\left(x+3\right)}^{2}\left(x - 5\right)[/latex].

Answer: This graph has two x-intercepts. At x = –3, the factor is squared, indicating a multiplicity of 2. The graph will bounce off the x-intercept at this value. At x = 5, the function has a multiplicity of one, indicating the graph will cross through the axis at this intercept. The y-intercept is found by evaluating f(0).

[latex]\begin{array}{l}\hfill \\ f\left(0\right)=-2{\left(0+3\right)}^{2}\left(0 - 5\right)\hfill \\ \text{}f\left(0\right)=-2\cdot 9\cdot \left(-5\right)\hfill \\ \text{}f\left(0\right)=90\hfill \end{array}[/latex]

The y-intercept is (0, 90). Additionally, we can see the leading term, if this polynomial were multiplied out, would be [latex]-2{x}^{3}[/latex], so the end behavior, as seen in the following graph, is that of a vertically reflected cubic with the outputs decreasing as the inputs approach infinity and the outputs increasing as the inputs approach negative infinity. Showing the distribution for the leading term. To sketch the graph, we consider the following:
  • As [latex]x\to -\infty [/latex] the function [latex]f\left(x\right)\to \infty [/latex], so we know the graph starts in the second quadrant and is decreasing toward the x-axis.
  • Since [latex]f\left(-x\right)=-2{\left(-x+3\right)}^{2}\left(-x - 5\right)[/latex] is not equal to f(x), the graph does not have any symmetry.
  • At [latex]\left(-3,0\right)[/latex] the graph bounces off of the x-axis, so the function must start increasing after this point.
  • At (0, 90), the graph crosses the y-axis.
Graph of the end behavior and intercepts, (-3, 0) and (0, 90), for the function f(x)=-2(x+3)^2(x-5). Somewhere after this point, the graph must turn back down or start decreasing toward the horizontal axis because the graph passes through the next intercept at (5, 0). Graph of the end behavior and intercepts, (-3, 0), (0, 90) and (5, 0), for the function f(x)=-2(x+3)^2(x-5). As [latex]x\to \infty [/latex] the function [latex]f\left(x\right)\to \mathrm{-\infty }[/latex], so we know the graph continues to decrease, and we can stop drawing the graph in the fourth quadrant. The complete graph of the polynomial function [latex]f\left(x\right)=-2{\left(x+3\right)}^{2}\left(x - 5\right)[/latex] is as follows: Graph of f(x)=-2(x+3)^2(x-5).

Try It

Sketch a possible graph for [latex]f\left(x\right)=\frac{1}{4}x{\left(x - 1\right)}^{4}{\left(x+3\right)}^{3}[/latex]. Check yourself with an online graphing calculator when you are done.

Answer: Graph of f(x)=(1/4)x(x-1)^4(x+3)^3.

Try it

Use an online graphing calculator to find an odd degree function with one zero at (-3,0) whose multiplicity is 3 and another zero at (2,0) with multiplicity 2. The end behavior of the graph is: as [latex]x\rightarrow-\infty, f(x) \rightarrow\infty[/latex] and as [latex]x\rightarrow \infty, f(x)\rightarrow -\infty[/latex]

The Intermediate Value Theorem

In some situations, we may know two points on a graph but not the zeros. If those two points are on opposite sides of the x-axis, we can confirm that there is a zero between them. Consider a polynomial function f whose graph is smooth and continuous. The Intermediate Value Theorem states that for two numbers a and b in the domain of f, if a < b and [latex]f\left(a\right)\ne f\left(b\right)[/latex], then the function f takes on every value between [latex]f\left(a\right)[/latex] and [latex]f\left(b\right)[/latex]. We can apply this theorem to a special case that is useful for graphing polynomial functions. If a point on the graph of a continuous function f at [latex]x=a[/latex] lies above the x-axis and another point at [latex]x=b[/latex] lies below the x-axis, there must exist a third point between [latex]x=a[/latex] and [latex]x=b[/latex] where the graph crosses the x-axis. Call this point [latex]\left(c,\text{ }f\left(c\right)\right)[/latex]. This means that we are assured there is a value c where [latex]f\left(c\right)=0[/latex]. In other words, the Intermediate Value Theorem tells us that when a polynomial function changes from a negative value to a positive value, the function must cross the x-axis. The figure below shows that there is a zero between a and b.
Graph of an odd-degree polynomial function that shows a point f(a) that’s negative, f(b) that’s positive, and f(c) that’s 0. The Intermediate Value Theorem can be used to show there exists a zero.

A General Note: Intermediate Value Theorem

Let f be a polynomial function. The Intermediate Value Theorem states that if [latex]f\left(a\right)[/latex] and [latex]f\left(b\right)[/latex] have opposite signs, then there exists at least one value c between a and b for which [latex]f\left(c\right)=0[/latex].

Example: Using the Intermediate Value Theorem

Show that the function [latex]f\left(x\right)={x}^{3}-5{x}^{2}+3x+6[/latex] has at least two real zeros between [latex]x=1[/latex] and [latex]x=4[/latex].

Answer: To start, evaluate [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex] at the integer values [latex]x=1,2,3,\text{ and }4[/latex].

x 1 2 3 4
f(x) 5 0 –3 2
We see that one zero occurs at [latex]x=2[/latex]. Also, since [latex]f\left(3\right)[/latex] is negative and [latex]f\left(4\right)[/latex] is positive, by the Intermediate Value Theorem, there must be at least one real zero between 3 and 4. We have shown that there are at least two real zeros between [latex]x=1[/latex] and [latex]x=4[/latex].

Analysis of the Solution

We can also graphically see that there are two real zeros between [latex]x=1[/latex] and [latex]x=4[/latex]. Graph of f(x)=x^3-5x^2+3x+6 and shows, by the Intermediate Value Theorem, that there exists two zeros since f(1)=5 and f(4)=2 are positive and f(3) = -3 is negative.

Try It

Show that the function [latex]f\left(x\right)=7{x}^{5}-9{x}^{4}-{x}^{2}[/latex] has at least one real zero between [latex]x=1[/latex] and [latex]x=2[/latex].

Answer: Because f is a polynomial function and since [latex]f\left(1\right)[/latex] is negative and [latex]f\left(2\right)[/latex] is positive, there is at least one real zero between [latex]x=1[/latex] and [latex]x=2[/latex].

Licenses & Attributions

CC licensed content, Original

  • Interactive: Write a Polynomial Function. Provided by: Lumen Learning (With Desmos) License: CC BY: Attribution.
  • Revision and Adaptation. Provided by: Lumen Learning License: CC BY: Attribution.

CC licensed content, Shared previously

  • College Algebra. Provided by: OpenStax Authored by: Abramson, Jay et al.. Located at: https://openstax.org/books/college-algebra/pages/1-introduction-to-prerequisites. License: CC BY: Attribution. License terms: Download for free at http://cnx.org/contents/[email protected].