NAME _____________________________________________ DATE ____________________________ PERIOD _____________

4-5 Study Guide and Intervention

Analyzing Graphs of Polynomial Functions
Location Principle
Suppose y = f(x) represents a polynomial function and a and b are two numbers such that
Location Principle
f(a) < 0 and f(b) > 0. Then the function has at least one real zero between a and b.

Example: Determine consecutive integer values of x between which each real zero of f(x) = 2𝒙𝟒 – 𝒙𝟑 – 5 is located.
Then draw the graph.
Make a table of values. Look at the values of f(x) to locate the zeros. Then use the points to sketch a graph of the function.

x f(x) The changes in sign indicate that there are zeros between x = –2
and x = –1 and between x = 1 and x = 2.
–2 35
–1 –2
0 –5
1 –4
2 19

Exercises
Graph each function by making a table of values. Determine the values of x between which each real zero is
located.

1. f(x) = 𝑥 3 – 2𝑥 2 + 1 2. f(x) = 𝑥 4 + 2𝑥 3 – 5 3. f(x) = –𝑥 4 + 2𝑥 2 – 1

between 0 and –1; between –2 and –3; at ±1

at 1; between 1 and 2 between 1 and 2
4. f(x) = 𝑥 3 – 3𝑥 2 + 4 5. f(x) = 3𝑥 3 + 2x – 1 6. f(x) = 𝑥 4 – 3𝑥 3 + 1

at –1, 2 between 0 and 1 between 0 and 1;

between 2 and 3
Chapter 4 29 Glencoe Algebra 2
NAME _____________________________________________ DATE ____________________________ PERIOD _____________

4-5 Study Guide and Intervention (continued)

Analyzing Graphs of Polynomial Functions
Maximum and Minimum Points A quadratic function has either a maximum or a minimum point on its graph. For
higher degree polynomial functions, you can find turning points, which represent relative maximum or relative
minimum points.

Example: Graph f(x) = 𝒙𝟑 + 6𝒙𝟐 – 3. Estimate the x-coordinates at which the relative maxima and minima occur.
Make a table of values and graph the function.
x f(x) A relative maximum occurs at
x = –4 and a relative minimum
–5 22 occurs at x = 0.
–4 29 ← indicates a relative maximum

–3 24
–2 13
–1 2 ← zero between x = –1, x = 0

0 –3 ←indicates a relative minimum

1 4
2 29

Exercises
Graph each polynomial function. Estimate the x-coordinates at which the relative maxima and relative minima
occur.
1. f(x) = 𝑥 3 – 3𝑥 2 2. f(x) = 2𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 – 3x 3. f(x) = 2𝑥 3 – 3x + 2

max. at 0, min. at 2 max. about –1, max. about –1,

min. about 0.5 min. about 1
4. f(x) = 𝑥 4 – 7x – 3 5. f(x) = 𝑥 5 – 2𝑥 2 + 2 6. f(x) = 𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 – 3

min. about 1 max. at 0, max. about –1,

min. about 1 min. at 0
Chapter 4 30 Glencoe Algebra 2