PreCalculus Fall Semester Exam 2024

Front

What is synthetic division?

Back

Synthetic division is a simplified form of polynomial long division that is used to divide a polynomial by a linear factor of the form (x - c). It provides the quotient and the remainder of the division.

Front

How do you find the remainder of a polynomial when divided by a linear factor?

Back

To find the remainder of a polynomial f(x) when divided by (x - c), evaluate f(c). This is known as the Remainder Theorem.

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. For example, in f(x) = 2x^3 - 3x^2 + 4x - 5, the degree is 3.

Front

What does the leading coefficient of a polynomial indicate?

Back

The leading coefficient is the coefficient of the term with the highest degree in a polynomial. It affects the end behavior of the graph of the polynomial.

Front

What is the Intermediate Value Theorem?

Back

The Intermediate Value Theorem states that if a function is continuous on a closed interval [a, b] and takes on different signs at a and b, then there exists at least one c in (a, b) such that f(c) = 0.

Front

What does it mean for a polynomial to fall to the left and rise to the right?

Back

A polynomial falls to the left and rises to the right if its leading coefficient is positive and its degree is odd. This means as x approaches negative infinity, f(x) approaches negative infinity, and as x approaches positive infinity, f(x) approaches positive infinity.

Front

How do you determine the sign change of a polynomial function?

Back

To determine the sign change of a polynomial function, evaluate the function at different points. A sign change occurs when the function value changes from positive to negative or vice versa between two points.

Front

What is the significance of the leading coefficient being negative?

Back

If the leading coefficient of a polynomial is negative, the graph will fall to the right and rise to the left if the degree is odd. If the degree is even, the graph will fall on both ends.

Front

What is a polynomial function?

Back

A polynomial function is a function that can be expressed in the form f(x) = a_n*x^n + a_(n-1)*x^(n-1) + ... + a_1*x + a_0, where a_n, a_(n-1), ..., a_0 are constants and n is a non-negative integer.

Front

What is the relationship between the degree of a polynomial and its end behavior?

Back

The degree of a polynomial determines its end behavior. Odd degree polynomials have opposite end behaviors, while even degree polynomials have the same end behavior.