Warm

Up 5.4, Day 1
List all the possible
rational zeros of

f ( x ) = 2x 4 + 5x 3 18x 2 19x + 42

Use Synthetic Division (or your Table) to nd rational zeros.

Find all the remaining real zeros.

Unit 5: Polynomials and Polynomial

Functions

Target 5.4, Day 1

APPLY THE FUNDAMENTAL
THEOREM OF ALGEBRA (5.7)

A polynomial of degree n has exactly n solutions (real and/or

imaginary), provided that double solutions are counted twice, triple
solutions counted 3 times, etc. This is the Fundamental Theorem
of Algebra.

How many total solutions (zeros/roots) does the polynomial have?

3

x + 3x 8 x + 1 = 0
6

f ( x ) = 5x x + 2x + 2x 9x

Because we now know that the x-intercepts of a graph represent the

real zeros of a polynomial equation, we can combine this with the
Fundamental Theorem of Algebra to also nd the number of
imaginary zeros.
Find the number of total zeros, real zeros, and imaginary zeros of
the polynomial.
4

f ( x ) = x 6x x + 4 f ( x ) = x 2x +1

f ( x) = x 6 + 3

Total : ______________ T: _______________ T: ___________

Real: _______________ R: _______________ R: ___________

Imaginary: __________ I: ________________ I: ____________

Sometimes you will have to count a solution as a double or triple

(or more) solution to get the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra to
t.
These repeated solutions can be found by looking at the powers
of our factors.
Even Powers
Odd Powers
2

f ( x ) = ( x +1) ( x 2 )

g ( x ) = ( x +1) ( x 2 )

These represent repeated solutions.

Also, graph f(x). How does your graph behave around even
repeated solutions?

Find the number of total zeros, real zeros, and imaginary zeros of
the polynomial. Be sure to check for repeated solutions.
5

f ( x ) = x 4x + 4x +10x 13x 14
Total : ______________

Real: _______________

Imaginary: __________
Now, nd the real zeros using a graphing calculator.

Write a polynomial of least degree with a leading coecient of 1

that has roots of -2, 1, and 4.

Complex Conjugates / Irrational Conjugates Theorem: If you

know that a complex or irrational number (square root) is a root of
a polynomial, then its conjugate (opposite) is also a root.
Write a polynomial of least degree with a leading coecient of 1
that has roots of 3 a5nd
.

Write a polynomial of least degree with a leading coecient of 1

that has roots of 1 3i.
and

Warm Up 5.4, Day 2

Find the number of total zeros, real zeros, and imaginary zeros.
Then, nd the real zeros using a graphing calculator.

f ( x ) = x 3 3x 2 + x + 6
By looking at a graph, how can you tell if a zero represents a double
solution?
3i.
Write a polynomial of least degree that has zeros at 4, -2, and

Unit 5: Polynomials and Polynomial

Functions

Target 5.4, Day 2

ANALYZE GRAPHS OF
POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS (5.8)

Graph the function on a graphing calculator. What connection do

you notice between the degree (highest exponent) and the number
of turning points (maxs and mins) of the function?
3

f ( x ) = x + 2x 3x 1

g ( x ) = x x 4x + 4

h ( x ) = x 5 3x 4 5x 3 +15x 2 + 4x 7
Test your hypothesis
3

i ( x ) = x 2x + 2x 1
A polynomial of degree n has at most ____________ turning points.

Use a graphing calculator to nd the coordinates of the local maxs

and local mins (turning points) of the polynomial.

f ( x ) = x 3 + 2x 2 3x 1

Analyze the function: f ( x ) = x 4 6x 3 + 3x 2 +10x 3

The Open Box Problem

x
20 inches

What should you cut out of

each corner of the cardboard to
maximize the volume of the
box? What would the
16 inches maximum volume be?

Warm Up 5.4, Day 3 (Part 1)

Analyze the function: g

(x) = 0.5x

2 x + 2.5

Warm Up 5.4, Day 3 (Part 2)

You have a piece of cardboard that measures 10 inches by 15 inches.
You want to make an open box by cutting squares out of the
corners and folding the edges. How much should you cut to
maximize the volume? What will the maximum volume be?

Unit 5: Polynomials and Polynomial

Functions

Target 5.4, Day 3

WRITE POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS
AND MODELS (5.9)

As weve done in the past, we can use the Regression feature on our
graphing calculators to nd the equation of a cubic or quartic
function.
Write the polynomial function whose graph is shown.

1. Go to [Stat] and enter your x-

values into L1 and your y-values
into L2 (you always need at least
one more point than degree).
2. Determine if you have a cubic or
quartic polynomial.
3. Select the appropriate
regression from the [Calc] menu
in [Stat]

(-4, 0)

(1, 0)
(0, -6)

(3, 0)

Sometimes we wont know from a set of data whether a quadratic,

cubic, or quartic model will best t our data. In this case, we can
use the correlation coecient (r) to determine which model is
the best t. (Remember, the closer r is to 1 or -1, the better the t
is).
Find the equation that best ts the data in the table. Explain why
you choose the regression you did.
x
f(x)

1
1

2
4

3
10

4
20

5
35

6
56

7
84

The table shows the typical speed y (in feet per second) of a space
shuttle x seconds after launch. Find a cubic model for the data.

Then, use the model to predict the time when the shuttles speed
reaches 4400 feet per second.