Roller Coaster Crew

Ray and Kelsey have summer internships at an engineering firm. As part of their internship, they get
to assist in the planning of a brand new roller coaster. For this assignment, you help Ray and Kelsey
as they tackle the math behind some simple curves in the coaster's track.
Part A
The first part of Ray and Kelsey's roller coaster is a curved pattern that can be represented by a
polynomial function.

1. Ray and Kelsey are working to graph a third-degree polynomial function that represents the
first pattern in the coaster plan. Ray says the third-degree polynomial has 4 intercepts.
Kelsey argues the function can have as many as 3 zeros only. Is there a way for the both of
them to be correct? Explain your answer.

Yes. A polynomial can have, at most, a number of zeroes equal to it's degree. A third degree

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polynomial can therefore have three zeroes, however, Ray is arguing that the polynomial has four

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INTERCEPTS. While the terms "zeroes" and "intercepts" are often used synonymously, technically a

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zero is an x-intercept. A function can also have a y-intercept, so in total, a cubic can have four

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intercepts, though only three of them will be zeroes.

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2. Kelsey has a list of possible functions. Pick one of the g(x) functions below and then
describe to Kelsey the key features of g(x), including the end behavior, y-intercept, and
zeros.
o g(x) = x3 − x2 − 4x + 4
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o g(x) = x3 + 2x2 − 9x − 18
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o g(x) = x3 − 3x2 − 4x + 12
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o g(x) = x3 + 2x2 − 25x − 50

o g(x) = 2x3 + 14x2 − 2x − 14

o zeros – (-2,0) (2,0) (3,0)

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o y-intercept 12
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o left down right up

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 3. Create a graph of the polynomial function you selected from Question 2.

Part B
The second part of the new coaster is a parabola.

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4. Ray needs help creating the second part of the coaster. Create a unique parabola in the

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pattern f(x) = ax2 + bx + c. Describe the direction of the parabola and determine the y-

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intercept and zeros.

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5. The safety inspector notes that Ray also needs to plan for a vertical ladder through the
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center of the coaster's parabolic shape for access to the coaster to perform safety repairs.
Find the vertex and the equation for the axis of symmetry of the parabola, showing your
work, so Ray can include it in his coaster plan.
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6. Create a graph of the polynomial function you created in Question 4.

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Part C

7. Now that the curve pieces are determined, use those pieces as sections of a complete
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coaster. By hand or by using a drawing program, sketch a design of Ray and Kelsey's
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coaster that includes the shape of the g(x) and f(x) functions that you chose in the Parts A
and B. You do not have to include the coordinate plane. You may arrange the functions in
any order you choose, but label each section of the graph with the corresponding function for
your instructor to view.
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Part D

8. Create an ad campaign to promote Ray and Kelsey's roller coaster. It can be a 15-second
advertisement for television or radio, an interview for a magazine or news report, or a song,
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poem, or slideshow presentation for a company. These are just examples; you are not limited
to how you prepare your advertisement, so be creative. Make sure to include a script of what
each of you will say if you are preparing an interview or a report. The purpose of this ad is to
get everyone excited about the roller coaster.

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 08.07 Polynomial Functions—Option 1 Rubric
Requirements Possible Points Stu

Student answers Questions 1 and 2 correctly and completely, with work shown. 4

Student submits a complete and accurate graph of the polynomial in Question 2. 4

Student answers Questions 4 and 5 correctly and completely, with work shown. 4

Student submits a complete and accurate graph of the polynomial in Question 5. 4

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Student provides a sketch of his or her design that includes the polynomials. 2

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Student submits an original campaign ad or promotion of some sort. 2
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