Chapter 4: Problem 39
Sketch by hand the graph of each function. (You may wish to support your answer with a calculator graph.) $$\begin{aligned} P(x) &=2 x^{5}-10 x^{4}+x^{3}-5 x^{2}-x+5 \\ &=(x-5)\left(x^{2}+1\right)\left(2 x^{2}-1\right) \end{aligned}$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
Graph the endpoints and x/y intercepts, crossing the x-axis at x=5, and touching at x=±√(1/2).
Step by step solution
01
Identify the Degree of the Polynomial
The given polynomial \( P(x) = 2x^5 - 10x^4 + x^3 - 5x^2 - x + 5 \) is a quintic polynomial, which means it is a fifth-degree polynomial. Since its highest power is odd, the graph will have opposing end behaviors: as \( x \to -\infty \), \( P(x) \to -\infty \) and as \( x \to \infty \), \( P(x) \to \infty \).
02
Determine the Roots
The polynomial is factored as \( (x-5)(x^2+1)(2x^2-1) \). The roots of the polynomial are obtained from this factorization: \( x = 5 \) from \( (x-5) \), and \( 2x^2-1 = 0 \), which gives \( x = \pm \sqrt{\frac{1}{2}} \). \( x^2 + 1 \) has no real roots as it only contributes complex roots \( x = \pm i \). The real roots are \( x = 5 \) and \( x = \pm \sqrt{\frac{1}{2}} \).
03
Find the Y-Intercept
The y-intercept occurs where \( x = 0 \). Substitute \( x = 0 \) into the polynomial: \( P(0) = 2(0)^5 - 10(0)^4 + (0)^3 - 5(0)^2 - 0 + 5 = 5 \). Thus, the y-intercept is \( (0, 5) \).
04
Analyze the Behavior at the Roots
At \( x = 5 \), there is a linear factor \( (x-5) \), indicating the graph crosses the x-axis. At \( x = \pm \sqrt{\frac{1}{2}} \), the factor \( (2x^2-1) \) indicates the graph touches and turns around these roots since it comes from a quadratic expression.
05
Sketch the Graph
Using the information from previous steps, plot the x-intercepts at \( x = 5 \) and \( x = \pm \sqrt{\frac{1}{2}} \) on the x-axis and the y-intercept at \( (0, 5) \). Sketch the curve, ensuring to show it crossing the x-axis at \( x = 5 \) and touching but not crossing at \( x = \pm \sqrt{\frac{1}{2}} \). The graph should head downwards from the left, hit the points \( x = \pm \sqrt{\frac{1}{2}} \), and finally go upwards past \( x = 5 \).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Quintic Polynomial
In simple terms, a quintic polynomial is a polynomial of degree five. This means it has the highest power of five in its expanded form, resulting in a maximum of five roots or zeros. In our given exercise, the quintic polynomial is \( P(x) = 2x^5 - 10x^4 + x^3 - 5x^2 - x + 5 \). When tackling such polynomials, it's helpful to recognize the degree early, as this provides insight into certain properties of the graph:
- The end behavior is determined by this degree, particularly because it's odd, indicating opposing ends.
- The degree affects the polynomial's complexity—degree five means potentially interacting with up to five x-intercepts.
Roots of Polynomial
The roots of a polynomial are values of \( x \) for which the polynomial equals zero. In this exercise, the polynomial is factored as \((x-5)(x^2+1)(2x^2-1)\). This factorization is key for identifying the roots:
- The factor \( (x-5) \) provides a real root at \( x = 5 \).
- The factor \( 2x^2 - 1 \) gives real roots at \( x = \pm \sqrt{\frac{1}{2}} \).
- The term \( x^2 + 1 = 0 \) results in complex roots \( x = \pm i \), which are not plotted on a real graph.
End Behavior of Polynomial
The end behavior of a polynomial describes the direction the graph heads as \( x \) approaches either positive or negative infinity. For odd-degree polynomials like quintics, such behavior mirrors the leading coefficient:
- If the leading coefficient is positive, as in our case with \( 2x^5 \), the graph will start from the bottom left (as \( x \) approaches \(-\infty\), \( P(x) \to -\infty \)) and finish at the top right (as \( x \) approaches \(+\infty\), \( P(x) \to \infty \)).
- End behavior is an important part of sketching the graph because it outlines the graph's directional trend beyond the visible roots or intercepts.
Graphing Polynomial Functions
Graphing a polynomial function involves several steps that together reveal the function's shape and critical features. Here’s how to approach sketching our given quintic polynomial:
- Identify and Plot the Roots: Place the x-intercepts at \( x = 5 \) and \( x = \pm \sqrt{\frac{1}{2}} \) on the x-axis, noting whether they represent crossings or touches based on their multiplicity.
- Plot the Y-intercept: Find where the polynomial crosses the y-axis. For \( x = 0 \), the y-intercept is at \( (0, 5) \).
- Consider End Behavior: As discussed, an odd-degree polynomial with a positive leading coefficient will move from the bottom left to top right.