MATH 1314 – College Algebra Lab 4

Name: ___________________________________

Please show your work in the space provided in order for you to receive credit. Answers with no work will
receive no credit. Box your answers.

1. Consider the polynomial function 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = 𝑥𝑥 3 − 4𝑥𝑥 2 − 3𝑥𝑥 + 18.

a. Find 𝑓𝑓(10) using synthetic division.

𝑓𝑓(10) = ______

b. 10 ________ (is / is not) a zero of the polynomial because ______________________________________ .

c. Use synthetic division to determine if (𝑥𝑥 + 2) is a factor of 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥).

Is (𝑥𝑥 + 2) a factor? Yes or No? _________

d. -2 ________ (is / is not) a zero of the polynomial because ______________________________________ .

e. Find the remaining zeros of the polynomial with their multiplicities and behavior (touch/cross). Fill out the
table below.

Zeros Multiplicity Behavior

f. Write the polynomial as a product of its linear factors: 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = _________________________________

1
MATH 1314 – College Algebra Lab 4

2. Laura owns and operates Aunt Linda's Pecan Pies. She has learned that her profit, 𝑃𝑃(𝑥𝑥), from the sale of 𝑥𝑥 cases
of pies, is given by:
𝑃𝑃(𝑥𝑥 ) = 240𝑥𝑥 − 𝑥𝑥 2
a. How many cases of pies should she sell in order to maximize profit?

b. What is the maximum profit? ___________________

c. The company will "break-even" when the profit is zero, or 𝑃𝑃(𝑥𝑥 ) = 0. How many cases of pies should Laura
sell to break-even?

3. Analyze and sketch the polynomial function and complete the chart below.
𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = −4(𝑥𝑥 + 2)4 (𝑥𝑥 − 1)3 (𝑥𝑥 − 5)

a. Leading Term: _______ Degree: _______

Leading Coefficient: _______ End Behavior: ______________

b. List all the zeros of the polynomial with their multiplicities and behavior (touch/cross).

Zeros Multiplicity Behavior

c. Sketch the graph.

2
MATH 1314 – College Algebra Lab 4
3
4. Consider the following one-to-one function, 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = √𝑥𝑥 + 2, and its graph below.
a. Graph 𝑓𝑓 −1 (𝑥𝑥) on the same axes as 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥). Include and label the line of symmetry.

b. Use algebra to find the inverse function, 𝑓𝑓 −1 (𝑥𝑥).