Ch 2.1 - 2.2 Practice Flashcard (PC)

Front

What is the vertex of a parabola?

Back

The vertex of a parabola is the point where the curve changes direction, representing the maximum or minimum value of the function.

Front

How do you find the zeros of a polynomial function?

Back

To find the zeros of a polynomial function, set the function equal to zero and solve for the variable. The zeros are the x-values where the graph intersects the x-axis.

Front

What does it mean for a root to be a double root?

Back

A double root occurs when a polynomial has a root that is repeated twice, indicating that the graph touches the x-axis at that point but does not cross it.

Front

What is the axis of symmetry in a parabola?

Back

The axis of symmetry is a vertical line that divides the parabola into two mirror-image halves, and it passes through the vertex.

Front

How do you determine the end behavior of a polynomial function?

Back

The end behavior of a polynomial function is determined by the degree of the polynomial and the sign of the leading coefficient.

Front

What is the leading coefficient of a polynomial?

Back

The leading coefficient is the coefficient of the term with the highest degree in a polynomial, which influences the direction of the graph as x approaches positive or negative infinity.

Front

What is the degree of a polynomial?

Back

The degree of a polynomial is the highest power of the variable in the polynomial expression.

Front

What is the significance of the leading coefficient being positive?

Back

If the leading coefficient is positive, the graph of the polynomial will rise to the right as x approaches positive infinity.

Front

What is the significance of the degree being odd?

Back

If the degree of a polynomial is odd, the graph will have opposite end behaviors; it will rise on one end and fall on the other.

Front

What is the significance of the degree being even?

Back

If the degree of a polynomial is even, the graph will have the same end behavior; it will either rise on both ends or fall on both ends.