Name Date Class

LESSON Reteach
6-7 Investigating Graphs of Polynomial Functions
Examine the sign and the exponent of the leading term (term of greatest degree) of a
polynomial P! x " to determine the end behavior of the function.
Even degree functions: Exponent of leading term is even.
Read:
Positive leading coefficient Negative leading coefficient As x approaches
As x ! , P! x " " . As x ! , P! x " ! . positive infinity, P! x "
As x " , P! x " " . As x " , P! x " ! . approaches negative
Y Y
 
infinity.
 

 

 

 
X X
                     
 

 

 

 

 

Example: P! x " # 3x " 2x ! 5 Leading term: 3x 4

4 3
Sign: positive
End behavior: As x ! , P! x " " . Degree: 4, even
As x " , P! x " " .
Odd degree functions: Exponent of leading term is odd.
Positive leading coefficient Negative leading coefficient
As x " , P! x " " . As x ! , P! x " " .
As x ! , P! x " ! . As x " , P! x " ! .
Y Y
 
 
 
 
 
X X
                     
 
 
 
 
 

Example: P! x " # !2x 5 ! 6x 2 " x Leading term: !2x 5 Sign: negative

End behavior: As x ! , P! x " " . Degree: 5, odd
As x " , P! x " ! .

Identify the end behavior of each function.

1. P! x " # 4x 3 " 8x 2 ! 5 2. P! x " # !9x " 2x ! x " 7
6 3

Leading term: 4x
3
Leading term: !9x 6
Sign and degree: Positive, 3, odd Sign and degree: negative, 6, even
End behavior: as x !$, P!x" !$ End behavior: as x !$, P!x" !$

as x "$ , P ! x " "$ as x "$, P ! x " !$

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 Name Date Class

LESSON Reteach
6-7 Investigating Graphs of Polynomial Functions (continued)
You can use the graph of a polynomial function to analyze the function.
P ! x ": odd degree and 
Y

positive leading coefficient if:



 Notice the graph

As x ! , P ! x " ! and

X
increases, then
     
decreases, and then
    

as x " , P !x " x " . 

increases again.








P ! x ": odd degree and 

Y

negative leading coefficient if:




Notice this graph is the
 reverse. It decreases,
then increases, and

As x ! , P !x " x " and           
X

as x " , P !x " x ! . 


then decreases again.






P ! x ": even degree and 

Y

positive leading coefficient if:




Look at the end
As x ! , P !x " x " and

X
behavior. The graph
as x " , P !x " x " .
     

    
increases at both ends.








P ! x ": even degree and 

Y

negative leading coefficient if:



 This is the reverse. The




graph decreases at
As x ! , P !x " ! and           
X
both ends.
as x " , P !x " ! . 









Identify whether each function has an odd or even degree and a

positive or negative leading coefficient.
Y Y
Y
3. 
4.  5. 

  

  
  
  

 
X X X
                              
  
 

 

 

 


Even; positive Odd; negative Odd positive

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All rights reserved. 55 Holt Algebra 2

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