Polynomial Functions = Nightmare

Question

Aug 20, 2008, 05:53 PM

NancyD92

New Member

Join Date: Aug 2008

Posts: 11

Polynomial Functions = Nightmare

Okay, my pre-calculus teacher isn't very good at explaining things. We're working on graphing polynomial functions, and he went on about them. Unfortunately half the class didn't understand a word he said. So, I would like somebody to guide me through a sample problem (please be very specific, and use visual examples; that's how I learn):

y = x^2 - 4x

X^2 is X to the second power, if that helps.

Answers

Aug 21, 2008, 02:18 PM	#2

galactus

Mathematics Expert

Join Date: Sep 2006

Location: Chaneysville, Pa.

Posts: 1,008

What are you supposed to do?. If it is just graphing. Well, whip out the calculator and graph it.

It is a parabola with vertex at (2,-4) and is concave up. If the x^2 term is positive, then it is concave up. If it is negative, then concave down.

We can find the vertex by using $x=\frac{-b}{2a}$

Where a=1 (the coefficient of the leading term) and b=-4 (the coefficient of the linear term or x term).

$x=\frac{-(-4)}{2(1)}=2$

Plug that back in to find y.... $(2)^{2}-4(2)=-4$

There we go for the vertex.

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