Polynomial and Rational Functions Assignment

Task 1. Interpretation of the Given Graph

i. Turning points, zeros, and x-intercepts

The graph shows three x-intercepts, labeled D, E, and C, and two visible turning points, labeled

A and B. The x-intercepts (zeros of the function) are D = (-2, 0), E = (-1, 0), and C = (2, 0). The

turning points are A = (-1.569, -3.124), which is a local minimum, and B = (0.319, 8.643), which

is a local maximum. As explained in part (iii) below, the point C = (2, 0) is also a turning point (a

second local minimum), because the curve touches the x-axis there and turns back upward

instead of crossing through it.

ii. Multiplicity of zeros

At D = (-2, 0) and E = (-1, 0), the curve crosses straight through the x-axis, moving from one

side of the axis to the other. This behavior indicates that both zeros have an odd multiplicity, and

since no flattening is seen at either point, each has multiplicity 1.

At C = (2, 0), the curve approaches the x-axis from above (descending from the local maximum

B), touches the axis, and then turns back upward without crossing to the other side. This

"bounce" behavior at the axis is the signature of a zero with even multiplicity. Since the graph

only flattens slightly (rather than becoming very flat, which would indicate multiplicity 4 or

higher), the zero at C = (2, 0) has multiplicity 2.

iii. Degree of the polynomial and intervals of increase/decrease

Because the graph has three turning points in total (the local minimum at A, the local maximum

at B, and the second local minimum at C), the derivative of the function must have three real

roots. This means the original function is a degree 4 (quartic) polynomial, since a degree-4
polynomial's derivative is a degree-3 polynomial, which can have up to three real roots. This also

agrees with the multiplicities found above: 1 (at x = -2) + 1 (at x = -1) + 2 (at x = 2) = 4, which

matches the degree.

Using the zeros and multiplicities identified above, the polynomial can be written in factored

form as:

f(x) = a(x + 2)(x + 1)(x - 2)²

To find the leading coefficient a, the coordinates of point A, (-1.569, -3.124), were substituted

into the factored form:

f(-1.569) = a(-1.569 + 2)(-1.569 + 1)(-1.569 - 2)² = a(0.431)(-0.569)(-3.569)² = a(0.431)(-0.569)

(12.738) ≈ -3.124a

Setting this equal to -3.124 gives a ≈ 1. Expanding the factored form with a = 1:

f(x) = (x + 2)(x + 1)(x - 2)² = (x² + 3x + 2)(x² - 4x + 4) = x⁴ - x³ - 6x² + 4x + 8

This equation was checked against the graph and matches all five labeled points (A, B, C, D, and

E), confirming that f(x) = x⁴ - x³ - 6x² + 4x + 8 is the polynomial shown.

Increasing: the function is increasing on the interval (-1.569, 0.319), from the local minimum A

up to the local maximum B, and again on (2, ∞), after the second local minimum at C.

Decreasing: the function is decreasing on (-∞, -1.569), before reaching A, and on (0.319, 2),

from the local maximum B down to the local minimum at C.

iv. Local maximum/minimum

Yes, the graph has both a local maximum and local minima.

Local maximum: B = (0.319, 8.643)

Local minima: A = (-1.569, -3.124) and C = (2, 0)

v. Remainder when f(x) is divided by (x - 4)

f(c). Here, c = 4, so the remainder equals f(4). Synthetic division of f(x) = x⁴ - x³ - 6x² + 4x + 8

by (x - 4) was used to confirm this:

Coefficients: 1 -1 -6 4 8

Bring down 1: 1

1 × 4 = 4; -1 + 4 = 3

3 × 4 = 12; -6 + 12 = 6

6 × 4 = 24; 4 + 24 = 28

28 × 4 = 112; 8 + 112 = 120

The bottom row gives the quotient x³ + 3x² + 6x + 28 and a remainder of 120. This matches f(4)

= 4⁴ - 4³ - 6(4)² + 4(4) + 8 = 256 - 64 - 96 + 16 + 8 = 120.

Remainder = 120

Task 2. f(x) = x⁴ - 8x³ - 8x² + 8x + 7

i. Rational Root Theorem and synthetic division

The Rational Root Theorem states that any rational zero of a polynomial with integer coefficients

must be of the form p/q, where p is a factor of the constant term and q is a factor of the leading

coefficient (Stitz & Zeager, 2013). For f(x) = x⁴ - 8x³ - 8x² + 8x + 7, the constant term is 7 and

the leading coefficient is 1, so the possible rational zeros are ±1 and ±7.

Testing x = 1: f(1) = 1 - 8 - 8 + 8 + 7 = 0. So x = 1 is a zero. Synthetic division by (x - 1):

Coefficients: 1 -8 -8 8 7

Bring down 1: 1

1 × 1 = 1; -8 + 1 = -7

-7 × 1 = -7; -8 + (-7) = -15

-7 × 1 = -7; 7 + (-7) = 0

The remainder is 0, confirming x = 1 is a zero, and the quotient is x³ - 7x² - 15x - 7.

Testing the remaining quotient for x = -1: (-1)³ - 7(-1)² - 15(-1) - 7 = -1 - 7 + 15 - 7 = 0. So x = -1

is also a zero. Synthetic division of x³ - 7x² - 15x - 7 by (x + 1):

Coefficients: 1 -7 -15 -7

Bring down 1: 1

1 × (-1) = -1; -7 + (-1) = -8

-8 × (-1) = 8; -15 + 8 = -7

-7 × (-1) = 7; -7 + 7 = 0

The remainder is again 0, and the quotient is x² - 8x - 7. This quadratic has no rational roots (7

and 1 do not combine to give -8 as a sum with a product of -7 in integers), so the Quadratic

Formula was applied:

x = [8 ± √(64 - 4(1)(-7))] / 2 = [8 ± √92] / 2 = [8 ± 2√23] / 2 = 4 ± √23

Since √23 ≈ 4.796, the two remaining zeros are x ≈ 8.796 and x ≈ -0.796.

The four zeros of f(x) are: x = 1, x = -1, x = 4 + √23 ≈ 8.796, and x = 4 - √23 ≈ -0.796.

ii. Graph

The graph of f(x) = x⁴ - 8x³ - 8x² + 8x + 7 was plotted using the GeoGebra graphing tool. It

shows four x-intercepts corresponding to the zeros found above, at approximately x = -0.796, x =

-1, x = 1, and x = 8.796. Between the two negative zeros the curve dips slightly, and after x = 1 it

dips into a broad negative region before turning sharply upward near x = 8.796, consistent with

the end behavior described below. (A GeoGebra plot of this function should be included

alongside this document as instructed.)

Because f(x) is a degree 4 (even degree) polynomial with a positive leading coefficient (1), both

ends of the graph rise toward positive infinity:

As x → -∞, f(x) → +∞

As x → +∞, f(x) → +∞

Task 3. f(x) = (2x² - 5x + 3) / (x² + 5x)

i. Horizontal and vertical asymptotes

The numerator factors as 2x² - 5x + 3 = (2x - 3)(x - 1), and the denominator factors as x² + 5x =

x(x + 5). Since the numerator and denominator share no common factors, there is no removable

discontinuity (hole); instead, every zero of the denominator is a vertical asymptote.

Vertical asymptotes: setting the denominator equal to zero, x(x + 5) = 0 gives x = 0 and x = -5.

Checking the numerator at these values confirms neither makes the numerator zero as well (at x

= 0, the numerator equals 3; at x = -5, the numerator equals 78), so both are true vertical

asymptotes.

Vertical asymptotes: x = 0 and x = -5

Horizontal asymptote: the numerator and denominator both have degree 2 (Stitz & Zeager, 2013,

describe this as the case where the degrees are equal). When the degrees of the numerator and

denominator of a rational function are equal, the horizontal asymptote is the ratio of the leading

coefficients. Here that ratio is 2/1 = 2.

Horizontal asymptote: y = 2

ii. Domain of the rational function

denominator equal to zero (Stitz & Zeager, 2013). Since the denominator x² + 5x = x(x + 5)

equals zero when x = 0 or x = -5, these two values must be excluded from the domain.

Domain: (-∞, -5) ∪ (-5, 0) ∪ (0, ∞), or equivalently, all real numbers x such that x ≠ -5 and x ≠

0.

Task 4. Rational Function From a Graph

i. Vertical and horizontal asymptotes

The graph shows the curve shooting toward positive and negative infinity near x = 1 and again

near x = 5, so these two vertical lines are the vertical asymptotes of the function: x = 1 and x = 5.

For large values of |x|, the graph approaches a straight diagonal line rather than leveling off,

which indicates a slant (oblique) asymptote rather than a horizontal one.

In general, to find the asymptotes of any rational function algebraically: first write the numerator

and denominator in fully factored form and cancel any common factors (a canceled factor

produces a hole, not an asymptote). The vertical asymptotes occur at the remaining values of x

that make the denominator zero. For the horizontal or slant behavior, compare the degree of the

numerator (n) to the degree of the denominator (m): if n < m, the horizontal asymptote is y = 0; if

n = m, the horizontal asymptote is the ratio of the leading coefficients; if n = m + 1, there is no

horizontal asymptote but there is a slant asymptote, found by dividing the numerator by the

denominator (the quotient, ignoring the remainder, is the equation of the slant asymptote); if n >

m + 1, there is no horizontal or slant asymptote.

ii. Zeros of the rational function

zeros of the function, at x = 2, x = 3, and x = 4.

iii. The rational function

Since the function has three zeros (x = 2, 3, 4) and two vertical asymptotes (x = 1, 5), and the

graph shows a slant asymptote rather than a horizontal one, the degree of the numerator must be

exactly one more than the degree of the denominator. This is consistent with a numerator of

degree 3 and a denominator of degree 2:

f(x) = a(x - 2)(x - 3)(x - 4) / [(x - 1)(x - 5)]

The value of a was found using the given y-intercept, A = (0, -4.8):

f(0) = a(-2)(-3)(-4) / [(-1)(-5)] = a(-24) / 5 = -4.8a

Setting -4.8a = -4.8 gives a = 1. Therefore:

f(x) = (x - 2)(x - 3)(x - 4) / [(x - 1)(x - 5)]

Dividing the numerator by the denominator confirms the slant asymptote observed in the graph:

(x - 2)(x - 3)(x - 4) = x³ - 9x² + 26x - 24, and (x - 1)(x - 5) = x² - 6x + 5

Dividing x³ - 9x² + 26x - 24 by x² - 6x + 5 gives a quotient of x - 3 with a remainder of 3x - 9, so:

f(x) = (x - 3) + (3x - 9) / (x² - 6x + 5)

As x → ±∞, the remainder term approaches 0, so the slant asymptote is y = x - 3, matching the

diagonal line seen in the graph.

Task 5. Open Box From a Rectangular Cardboard

Let the width of the cardboard be w (in centimeters). Since the length is described as thrice the

width, the length is 3w. Cutting a 15 cm square from each of the four corners and folding up the

sides produces an open box with:

Height: h = 15 cm
Width of the box base: w - 2(15) = w - 30

Length of the box base: 3w - 2(15) = 3w - 30

i. Volume of the open box

Volume = length × width × height:

V(w) = 15(3w - 30)(w - 30)

Expanding (3w - 30)(w - 30) = 3w² - 90w - 30w + 900 = 3w² - 120w + 900, so:

V(w) = 15(3w² - 120w + 900) = 45w² - 1800w + 13500

V(w) = 45w² - 1800w + 13500 is a polynomial function, not a rational function, because it is a

sum of terms of the form (a constant times a non-negative integer power of w), with no variable

in a denominator. Specifically, it is a quadratic (degree 2) polynomial in the variable w.

ii. Domain of the volume function

For the box to physically exist, every side length must be positive. The height is fixed at 15 cm,

which is already positive, so the meaningful restriction comes from the base dimensions:

w - 30 > 0 → w > 30

3w - 30 > 0 → w > 10 (automatically satisfied once w > 30)

Therefore, the domain of the volume function, restricted to values that make physical sense, is w

> 30, or in interval notation, (30, ∞), measured in centimeters.

iii. Dimensions for a volume of 12,500 cubic cm

Setting V(w) = 12,500:

45w² - 1800w + 13500 = 12500

45w² - 1800w + 1000 = 0

Dividing every term by 5: 9w² - 360w + 200 = 0

Applying the Quadratic Formula:

√122400 ≈ 349.857, so:

w ≈ (360 + 349.857) / 18 ≈ 39.44 or w ≈ (360 - 349.857) / 18 ≈ 0.56

Since the domain requires w > 30, only w ≈ 39.44 cm is a valid solution.

Using this value:

Width of box base = w - 30 ≈ 39.44 - 30 = 9.44 cm

Length of box base = 3w - 30 ≈ 118.31 - 30 = 88.31 cm

Height = 15 cm

Therefore, a box built from a cardboard sheet approximately 39.44 cm wide and 118.31 cm long

(before cutting), folded with a 15 cm height, would hold a flexible item with a volume of

approximately 12,500 cubic cm.

References

Stitz, C., & Zeager, J. (2013). College algebra. Stitz Zeager Open Source Mathematics.

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