FST 2.5-2.7 Practice Flashcard

Front

What is a complex root in polynomial functions?

Back

A complex root is a solution to a polynomial equation that can be expressed in the form a + bi, where a and b are real numbers and i is the imaginary unit.

Front

What is the conjugate of a complex number?

Back

The conjugate of a complex number a + bi is a - bi.

Front

If a polynomial has a complex root, what can be said about its roots?

Back

If a polynomial has real coefficients and a complex root, then its conjugate is also a root.

Front

What is the degree of a polynomial?

Back

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

Front

How do you find the zeros of a polynomial function?

Back

To find the zeros of a polynomial function, set the polynomial equal to zero and solve for the variable.

Front

What is the factored form of a polynomial?

Back

The factored form of a polynomial expresses it as a product of its linear factors.

Front

What is a polynomial function of degree 3?

Back

A polynomial function of degree 3 is a function that can be expressed in the form P(x) = ax^3 + bx^2 + cx + d, where a, b, c, and d are constants and a ≠ 0.

Front

What does it mean for a point to be an absolute maximum?

Back

An absolute maximum is the highest point over the entire domain of a function.

Front

What is the significance of the roots of a polynomial?

Back

The roots of a polynomial are the values of x for which the polynomial equals zero, indicating where the graph intersects the x-axis.

Front

How do you write a polynomial function given its roots?

Back

To write a polynomial function given its roots, use the factored form: P(x) = a(x - r1)(x - r2)...(x - rn), where r1, r2, ..., rn are the roots.