AP Precalculus - Unit 1 - Part A

Front

What is a polynomial function?

Back

Front

Back

It means that the values of the polynomial function are either negative or zero for the given intervals of x.

Front

How do you find the intervals where a polynomial function is less than or equal to zero?

Back

Front

What is end behavior of a polynomial function?

Back

End behavior describes how the values of a polynomial function behave as the input values approach positive or negative infinity.

Front

What determines the end behavior of a polynomial function?

Back

The leading term of the polynomial (the term with the highest degree) determines the end behavior. If the leading coefficient is positive, the function approaches infinity as x approaches infinity; if negative, it approaches negative infinity.

Front

What is a local maximum?

Back

A local maximum is a point on the graph of a function where the function value is higher than all nearby points.

Front

What is a local minimum?

Back

A local minimum is a point on the graph of a function where the function value is lower than all nearby points.

Front

What is the multiplicity of a root in a polynomial function?

Back

The multiplicity of a root refers to the number of times a particular root appears in the factorization of the polynomial. A root with an odd multiplicity crosses the x-axis, while a root with an even multiplicity touches the x-axis.

Front

How do you determine the zeros of a polynomial function?

Back

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

Front

What is the significance of the leading coefficient in a polynomial function?

Back

The leading coefficient affects the direction of the graph's end behavior and the overall shape of the polynomial function.