Name____________________

Pre-Calculus
Lecture 2.1 Quadratic Functions

Definition of Polynomial Function: Let n be a nonnegative integer and let

an , an −1 ,..., a2 , a1 , a0 be real numbers with an ≠ 0 . The function
f ( x) = an x n + an −1 x n −1 +  + a2 x 2 + a1 x + a0
is called a polynomial function of x with degree n.

1.) Find the degree of the following polynomial functions:

a.) f ( x) = 2 x 4 + 3 x + 5 b.) f ( x) = x 3 − 3 x + 4 x 6

Degree=___________________ Degree=____________________

Constant Function- a polynomial function with degree=0 (ex. f ( x) = 5 )

Linear Function – a polynomial function with degree=1 (ex. f ( x) = 3 x − 8 )
Quadratic Function – a polynomial function with degree=2
(ex. f ( x) = 2 x 2 + 3 x − 9 )

Definition of a Quadratic Function: Let a, b, and c be real numbers with

a ≠ 0 . The function f ( x) = ax 2 + bx + c is called a quadratic function.

Standard Form of a Quadratic Function: The quadratic function

f ( x) = a ( x − h) 2 + k , a ≠ 0 is said to be in standard form. The graph of f is a
parabola whose axis is the vertical line x=h and whose vertex is the point
(h,k). If a>0, the parabola opens upward, and if a<0, the parabola opens
downward.
2.) Graph the following function: Label the vertex, any
intercepts, and the axis of symmetry.

Vertex=_________________

x-intercepts (set y=0) y-intercepts(set x=0)

Note: To graph a parabola, you can start at the vertex and use the 1a, 3a, 5a,
sequence to find points from the vertex. (From the vertex go 1 to left and
right and up 1a, then go left and right one and up 3a, then left and right one
an up 5a)
3.) Sketch the graph of . Label the vertex, any intercepts,
and the axis of symmetry.

Vertex=_________________

x-intercepts (set y=0) y-intercepts(set x=0)

4.) Write the following functions in standard form. Identify the vertex of the
following quadratic functions. Also state whether the function goes upward
or downward.

a.) b.)

Vertex=__________________ Vertex=________________

Direction of curve __________ Direction of curve_________

5.) Graph the following function: . Label the vertex,
intercepts, and the axis of symmetry.

6.) Find an equation for the parabola:(vertex=(-2,-9), intercepts=(-5,0) (1,0))

Equation:____________________________
Application:

7.) The path of a diver is where y is the height (in

feet) and x is the horizontal distance (in feet) from the end of the diving
board. What is the maximum height of the dive? Verify your answer using
a graphing utility.
 Name____________________

Pre-Calculus
Lecture 2.2 Polynomial Functions of Higher Degree

The graph of a polynomial function is continuous. (meaning that it has no

breaks, holes, or gaps)

Label the graphs of y = x 2 , y = x 4 , and y = x8 .

In the graphs of f ( x) = x n where n was even, as n increases the graph

flattens at the origin.

Label the graphs of y = x 3 , y = x 5 , and y = x 7 .

In the graphs of f ( x) = x n where n was odd, as n increases the graph flattens

at the origin.
1.) Sketch the graph of .

2.) Sketch the graph of

The Leading Coefficient Test – Determines whether the graph of a
polynomial eventually rises or falls by examining the function’s degree
(even or odd) and by its leading coefficient.

n even

n odd

3.) Describe the right-hand and left-hand behavior of the graph of each
function.

a.) ____________________

b.) _______________________

Zeros of Polynomial Functions

If f is a polynomial function and a is a real number, the following statements

are equivalent.
1. x=a is a zero of the function f
2. x=a is a solution of the polynomial equation f(x)=0
3. (x – a) is a factor of the polynomial f(x)
4. (a, 0) is an x-intercept of the graph of f.

* The graph of f with degree n has at most n real zeros.

* The graph of f with degree n has at most n-1 extrema (relative minimums
or maximums)
4.) Find the x-intercepts of the graph of
and graph.

5.) Sketch the graph of .

6.) Find a polynomial function with the following zeros.

a.) 2, 3, -1

The Intermediate Value Theorem

The Intermediate Value Theorem concerns the existence of real zeros of
polynomial functions. The theorem states that if (a,f(a)) and (b,f(b)) are two
points on the graph of a polynomial function such that , then for
any number d between f(a) and f(b) there must be a number c between a and
b such that f(c)=d.

7.) Use the Intermediate Value theorem and a graphing utility to find
intervals of length 1 in which the polynomial function is guaranteed to have
a zero. Then approximate the zeros of the function to one-tenth.

a.)
Match the equations with the graphs below:
a.) b.) c.) d.)

1.______________________ 2.________________________

3._______________________ 4._______________________
 Name____________________

Pre-Calculus
Section 2.3 (Real Zeros of Polynomial Functions)
Lecture

Long Division of Polynomials

1. Divide 2 x 3 − 5 x 2 + x − 8 by x-3

x − 3 2 x3 − 5 x 2 + x − 8

Division Algorithm
If f(x) and d(x) are polynomials such that d ( x) ≠ 0 , and the degree of d(x) is
less than or equal to the degree of f(x), there exist unique polynomials q(x)
and r(x) such that
f(x) is the dividend
f ( x) = d ( x)q( x) + r ( x) d(x) is the divisor
q(x) is the quotient
r(x) is the remainder
where r(x)=0 or the degree of r(x) is less than the degree of d(x). If the
remainder r(x) is zero, d(x) divides evenly into f(x).
2.) Divide by

Synthetic Division – short form of long division of divisors of the form x-k

3.) Use synthetic division to divide by x+2.

The Remainder Theorem

If a polynomial f(x) is divided by x – k, the remainder is r=f(k)

4.) Use the remainder theorem to evaluate when x=5.

The Factor Theorem
A polynomial f(x) has a factor (x – k) if and only if f(k)=0.

5.) Determine whether or not x –1 is a factor of using the

factor theorem.

The Rational Zero Test

If the polynomial f ( x) = an x n + an −1 x n −1 +  + a2 x 2 + a1 x + a0 has integer
coefficients, every rational zero of f has the form Rational zero= , where p

and q have no common factors other than 1, p is a factor of the constant term
, and q is a factor of the leading coefficient .

6.) Solve .

p: q: =

Use synthetic division to find the solutions from the set.

Solutions:_________________
7.) Find all the real zeros of .

Zeros_____________________

8.) Find all the zeros:

Zeros__________________________
 Name____________________

Pre-Calculus
Lecture 2.4 Complex Numbers

Some quadratic equations have no real solutions, like x 2 + 1 = 0 . To solve

this problem, mathematicians created an expanded system of numbers using
the imaginary unit i.

i = − 1 , where i 2 = −1 .
Definition of a Complex Number
If a and b are real numbers, the number a + bi is a complex number, and it is
said to be written in standard form.
If b=0, the number a + bi = a is a real number.
If b ≠ 0 , the number a + bi is called an imaginary number.
A number of the form bi , where b ≠ 0 , is called a pure imaginary number.

a + bi = c + di if and only if a=c and b=d.

Sum: (a + bi ) + (c + di ) = (a + c) + (b + d )i
Difference: (a + bi ) − (c + di ) = (a − c) + (b − d )i

1. Add or subtract the following complex numbers:

a.) (6 − 3i ) + (1 + 2i ) b.) (5 − i ) − (2 − 4i )
2. Multiply the following complex numbers:

a.)

b.)

c.)

d.)

Complex Conjugates
and are called complex conjugates.

3. Divide the following complex numbers:

a.)

b.)
Plotting Complex Numbers

4. Plot each of the complex numbers in the complex plane.

a.) 3 + 2i b.) 3i c.) –4 d.) –1 – 3i

Real Axis

Imaginary
Axis
 Powers of i. (4 possibilities)

5. Express each of the following powers of as , - , 1 or –1.

a.) b.)

c.) d.)
6. Write the following in standard form:

a.) b.) =

7. Solve for a and b.

a.) a=______ b=______

 Name_______________

Pre-Calculus
Lecture 2.5 The Fundamental Theorem of Algebra

In the complex number system, every nth-degree polynomial function has

precisely n zeros. This result is derived from the Fundamental Theorem of
Algebra.

The Fundamental Theorem of Algebra

If f(x) is a polynomial of degree n, where n>0, f has at least one zero in the
complex number system.

Linear Factorization Thoerem

If f(x) is a polynomial of degree n where n>0, f has precisely n linear factors
f ( x) = an ( x − c1 )( x − c2 )( x − cn )
where c1 , c2 ,…, cn are complex numbers.

1. Solve x 3 + 6 x − 7 = 0 .

Solutions_________________
2. Find all real zeros of

Zeros_____________________

Complex Zeros Occur in Conjugate Pairs

Let f(x) be a polynomial function that has real coefficients. If a + bi, where
, is a zero of the function, the conjugate a – bi is also a zero of the
function.

3. Find a fourth degree polynomial function with real coefficients that has 0,
1, and i as zeros.
4. Factor

a.) as the product of factors that are irreducible over the rationals.

b.) as the product of factors that are irreducible over the reals.

c.) completely.

d.) List the solutions:

5. Find all zeros of , given that 2+3i is a
zero.
6. Given .
a.) Find all zeros of the function b.) Write the polynomial as a product of
linear factors, c.) use your factorization to determine the x-intercepts of the
graph of the function, and d.) use a graphing utility to verify that the real
zeros are the only x-intercepts.
Pre-Calculus Lecture 2.6 Rational Functions and Asymptotes

N ( x)
A rational function can be written in the form f ( x) = , where N(x) and D(x)
D( x)
are polynomials and D(x) is not the zero polynomial.

Reminder: Domain: (denominator of a fraction cannot equal zero)

Vertical Asymptotes: Restrictions on Domain (except when the factor is in the

numerator, then it is a hole)

Horizontal Asymptotes: The value as f(x) as x approaches negative infinity and

positive infinity. (What happens when x gets very large or very small? There
could be two different horizontal asymptotes)
1
1.) Find the domain of f ( x) = . Then sketch a graph.
x !1

Vertical Asymptote:________________

Horizontal Asymptote:_______________

N ( x)
Method to identify the horizontal asymptotes: f ( x) = . Let n=the degree of
D( x)
N(x) and let m=the degree of D(x).

a.) If n<m, then y=0.

(leading coefficient of N ( x))
b.) If n=m, then y = .
(leading coefficient of M ( x))
c.) If n>m, then the graph has no horizontal asymptotes. To find the slant
asymptote, use long division.
 5x
2.) Given: f ( x) = . Determine the horizontal and vertical asymptotes and
x +1
then graph.

4x
3.) Given: f ( x) = . Determine the horizontal and vertical asymptotes and
x2 ! 1
then graph.
 x2
4.) Given: f ( x) = Determine the horizontal and vertical asymptotes and then
x +1
graph.

2x
5.) Given: f ( x) = . Determine the horizontal and vertical asymptotes and
x !1
then graph.
 2x ! 8
6.) Given f ( x) = 2
Determine the horizontal and vertical asymptotes
x ! 9 x + 20
and then graph.

7.) The game commission has determined that if 500 deer are introduced to a
500 + 350t
preserve, the population at any time t(in months) is given by N = .
1 + 0.2t
What is the carrying capacity of the preserve?
Pre-Calculus Lecture 2.7 Graphs of Rational Functions

When Sketching the graph of a rational function,

1.) Find and plot the x and y intercepts (if any) set x and y equal to 0.
2.) Find the vertical asymptotes. (set denominator equal to 0.)
3.) Find the horizontal asymptotes.
4.) Plot at least one point between and one point beyond each x-intercept and
vertical asymptote.

Symmetry Tests: a.) if f(-x)=f(x), then symmetrical with respect to y-axis.

b.) if –f(x)=f(-x), then it is symmetrical with the origin.

1
1.) Sketch the graph of f ( x) = . Identify the following:
x!5

x-intercepts:____________________

y-intercepts:____________________

vertical asymptotes:______________

horizontal asymptotes:____________

Symmetry:_____________________

Additional Points
x
f(x)
 x2
2.) Sketch the graph of g ( x) = 2 .
x !9

x-intercepts:____________________

y-intercepts:____________________

vertical asymptotes:______________

horizontal asymptotes:____________

Symmetry:_____________________

Additional Points
x
g(x)

x2 + 1
3.) Sketch the graph of g ( x) = .
x
x-intercepts:____________________

y-intercepts:____________________

vertical asymptotes:______________

horizontal asymptotes:____________

slant asymptotes:________________

Symmetry:_____________________

x
g(x)
 2 x2 ! 5x + 5
4.) Sketch the graph of f ( x) = .
x!2
x-intercepts:____________________

y-intercepts:____________________

vertical asymptotes:______________

horizontal asymptotes:____________

slant asymptotes:________________

Symmetry:_____________________

Additional Points

x
f(x)