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Polynomial Functions and Modeling

Vocabulary

cubic function

polynomial function of degree 3

degree of a polynomial

greatest degree of a term in a polynomial

degree of a term

exponent of the variable of a term in a polynomial in one variable

end behavior

description of how the values of a function change as the input values approach positive or negative infinity

even function

function with a graph that is symmetric with respect to the yy-axis

global maximum

point where the value of a function is greatest

global minimum

point where the value of a function is least

leading coefficient

the number multiplied by the variable in the first term of a polynomial written in standard form, which places the term with the highest degree first

local maximum

turning point where a graph changes from increasing to decreasing

local minimum

turning point where a graph changes from decreasing to increasing

maximum value

greatest value in the range of a function

minimum value

least value in the range of a function

multiplicity

If xcx-c is a factor of a polynomial function, the multiplicity of the zero x=cx=c is the number of times that the factor appears, or the exponent of the factor.

odd function

function with a graph that is symmetric with respect to the origin

polynomial function

function whose rule is a polynomial in one variable, which is a sum or difference of terms of the form axnax^n, where aa is a real number and nn is a nonnegative integer

polynomial in one variable

sum or difference of terms of the form axnax^n, where aa is a real number and nn is a nonnegative integer

power function

function, where aa is a nonzero real number and nn is a real number, written in the form:
f(x)=axnf(x) = ax^n

turning point

point where a graph changes from increasing to decreasing or from decreasing to increasing

zero of a function

value of xx that makes the value of a function zero