Characteristics of Polynomial Graphs

Front

What is a polynomial?

Back

A polynomial is a mathematical expression consisting of variables, coefficients, and non-negative integer exponents, combined using addition, subtraction, and multiplication.

Front

What is the degree of a polynomial?

Back

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

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.

Front

What are the zeros of a polynomial?

Back

The zeros of a polynomial are the values of the variable that make the polynomial equal to zero.

Front

How do you find the zeros of a polynomial?

Back

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

Front

What is the end behavior of a polynomial?

Back

The end behavior of a polynomial describes how the values of the polynomial behave as the variable approaches positive or negative infinity.

Front

What does it mean if a polynomial has a positive leading coefficient?

Back

If a polynomial has a positive leading coefficient, the graph will rise to the right.

Front

What does it mean if a polynomial has a negative leading coefficient?

Back

If a polynomial has a negative leading coefficient, the graph will fall to the right.

Front

What is the significance of the degree being even or odd?

Back

If the degree is even, the ends of the graph will point in the same direction; if odd, they will point in opposite directions.

Front

What is a constant term in a polynomial?

Back

A constant term is a term in a polynomial that does not contain any variables, representing a fixed value.