3) Turning points of polynomials

• An ”n”th order polynomial must have n-1 turning points

turning point
 3) Turning points of polynomials
• An ”n”th order polynomial must have n-1 turning points

2 turning points
 3) Turning points of polynomials
• An ”n”th order polynomial must have n-1 turning points

2 turning points
 An ”n”th order polynomial must have n-1 turning points

• Example)
 An ”n”th order polynomial must have n-1 turning points

• Example)
 There are a few ways to recognize graphs

• If I give you this graph, will

you be able to tell me the order of
the polynomial, the number of
turning points and the number of
roots?
 There are a few ways to recognize graphs

• If I give you this graph, will

you be able to tell me the order of
the polynomial, the number of
turning points and the number of
roots?
3rd order polynomials
4th order polynomials
5th order polynomials
6th order polynomials
 See the trend?
• Even order polynomials will have both ends
facing downwards or upwards
 See the trend?
• Odd order polynomials will have one end
facing up and other down, or vice versa
 Even order Odd order
Positive
coefficient

Negative
coefficient
 Even order Odd order
Positive
coefficient

Both ends up From left to right:

increase
Negative
coefficient

From left to righ:

Both ends down decrease
General graph shifts that you need
to know
Very important!
Same goes for any other function’s
graph…
 Functions
• Function is a fancy word for equation with a variable like “x”
or “t”

• Example) 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 2 + 2𝑥

• Example) g 𝑡 = −5𝑡 3 + 7𝑡 2
 Functions
• Note: we can plug in any number instead of x or t, and those
functions become functions of that number

• Example) 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 → 𝑓 1 =?
• Example) g 𝑡 = −5𝑡 3 + 7𝑡 2 → g 2 = ?
 Functions
• Note: we can plug in any number instead of x or t, and those
functions become functions of that number

• Example) 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 → 𝑓 1 = 2 1 2
+2 1 =4

• Example) g 𝑡 = −5𝑡 3 + 7𝑡 2 → g 2 = −5 2 3 + 7 2 2 = −12

 Functions
• Sometimes you might be asked to evaluate a function not
with a number but with an expression
 Functions
• Sometimes you might be asked to evaluate a function not
with a number but with an expression

• Example) 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 → 𝑓 2𝑥 = 2 2𝑥 2 + 2 2𝑥 = 8𝑥 2 + 4𝑥
 Functions
• Sometimes you might be asked to evaluate a function not
with a number but with an expression

• Example) 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 → 𝑓 2𝑥 = 2 2𝑥 2 + 2 2𝑥 = 8𝑥 2 + 4𝑥

• Just plug that expression inside the function instead of x

 Functions
• Sometimes you might be asked to evaluate a function not
with a number but with an expression

• Example) 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 → 𝑓 2𝑥 = 2 2𝑥 2 + 2 2𝑥 = 8𝑥 2 + 4𝑥

• Just plug that expression inside the function instead of x

• Be careful with the parentheses
 Functions
• Sometimes you might be asked to evaluate a function not
with a number but with an expression

• Example) g 𝑡 = −5𝑡 3 + 7𝑡 2

g 3𝑡 + 2 = ?
 Functions
• Sometimes you might be asked to evaluate a function not
with a number but with an expression

• Example) g 𝑡 = −5𝑡 3 + 7𝑡 2 → g 3𝑡 + 2 = −5(3𝑡 + 2)3 +7(3𝑡 + 2)2

3