What is the formula for a polynomial function?

A polynomial is a function of the form f(x) = anxn + an−1xn−1 + ... + a2x2 + a1x + a0 . The degree of a polynomial is the highest power of x in its expression. Constant (non-zero) polynomials, linear polynomials, quadratics, cubics and quartics are polynomials of degree 0, 1, 2 , 3 and 4 respectively.

What is polynomial function and its graph?

The graph of a polynomial function will touch the x-axis at zeros with even multiplicities . The graph will cross the x-axis at zeros with odd multiplicities. The higher the multiplicity, the flatter the curve is at the zero. The sum of the multiplicities is the degree of the polynomial function.

What is polynomial definition and types?

Polynomials are algebraic expressions that may comprise of exponents which are added, subtracted or multiplied. Polynomials are of different types. Namely, Monomial, Binomial, and Trinomial . A monomial is a polynomial with one term. A binomial is a polynomial with two, unlike terms.

How to write a formula for a polynomial graph?

If a polynomial of lowest degree p has zeros at x=x1,x2,…,xn x = x 1 , x 2 , … , x n , then the polynomial can be written in the factored form: f(x)=a(x−x1)p1(x−x2)p2⋯(x−xn)pn f ( x ) = a ( x − x 1 ) p 1 ( x − x 2 ) p 2 ⋯ ( x − x n ) p n where the powers pi on each factor can be determined by the behavior of the graph ...

What is a real life example of a polynomial graph?

Some real world example of polynomial graphs include a U-shape or a roller coaster . They include curves with inflection points.

What is a polynomial function for dummies?

In Algebra II, a polynomial function is one in which the coefficients are all real numbers, and the exponents on the variables are all whole numbers . A polynomial whose greatest power is 2 is called a quadratic polynomial; if the highest power is 3, then it's called a cubic polynomial.

What do you mean by polynomial with example?

In math, a polynomial is a mathematical expression that contains two or more algebraic terms that are added, subtracted, or multiplied (no division allowed!). Polynomial expressions include at least one variable and typically include constants and positive exponents as well. The expression x 2 − 4x + 7 is a polynomial.

How do you identify a polynomial?

The polynomials can be identified by noting which expressions contain only the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and non-negative integer exponents . The non-polynomial expressions will be the expressions which contain other operations. Explain why the non-polynomial expressions are not polynomials.

What makes something not a polynomial function?

While a polynomial can appear in many different ways, there are some rules about what is not considered a polynomial. A polynomial is NOT: An equation which contains division by a variable . An equation that contains negative exponents.

Polynomial Functions- Definition, Formula, Types and Graph With Examples (2024)

A polynomial function is a function that involves only non-negative integer powers or only positive integer exponents of a variable in an equation like the quadratic equation, cubic equation, etc. For example, 2x+5 is a polynomial that has exponent equal to 1.

Study Mathematics at BYJU’S in a simpler and exciting way here.

A polynomial function, in general, is also stated as a polynomial or polynomial expression, defined by its degree. The degree of any polynomial is the highest power present in it. In this article, you will learn polynomial function along with its expression and graphical representation of zero degrees, one degree, two degrees and higher degree polynomials.

Table of Contents:

Definition
Examples
Types
Graphs
Questions

Polynomial Function Definition

A polynomial function is a function that can be expressed in the form of a polynomial. The definition can be derived from the definition of a polynomial equation. A polynomial is generally represented as P(x). The highest power of the variable of P(x) is known as its degree. Degree of a polynomial function is very important as it tells us about the behaviour of the function P(x) when x becomes very large. The domain of a polynomial function is entire real numbers (R).

If P(x) = a_n xⁿ + a_n-1 x^n-1+.……….…+a₂ x² + a₁ x + a₀, then for x ≫ 0 or x ≪ 0, P(x) ≈ a_n xⁿ. Thus, polynomial functions approach power functions for very large values of their variables.

Polynomial Function Examples

A polynomial function has only positive integers as exponents. We can even perform different types of arithmetic operations for such functions like addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

Some of the examples of polynomial functions are here:

x²+2x+1
3x-7
7x³+x²-2

All three expressions above are polynomial since all of the variables have positive integer exponents. But expressions like;

5x^-1+1
4x^1/2+3x+1
(9x +1) ÷ (x)

are not polynomials, we cannot consider negative integer exponents or fraction exponent or division here.

Also, see:

Polynomial Formula
Multiplying Polynomials
Polynomial Class 10 Notes
Polynomial Class 9 Notes

Types of Polynomial Functions

There are various types of polynomial functions based on the degree of the polynomial. The most common types are:

Constant Polynomial Function: P(x) = a = ax⁰
Zero Polynomial Function: P(x) = 0; where all a_i’s are zero, i = 0, 1, 2, 3, …, n.
Linear Polynomial Function: P(x) = ax + b
Quadratic Polynomial Function: P(x) = ax²+bx+c
Cubic Polynomial Function: ax³+bx²+cx+d
Quartic Polynomial Function: ax⁴+bx³+cx²+dx+e

The details of these polynomial functions along with their graphs are explained below.

Graphs of Polynomial Functions

The graph of P(x) depends upon its degree. A polynomial having one variable which has the largest exponent is called a degree of the polynomial.

Let us look at P(x) with different degrees.

Constant Polynomial Function

Degree 0 (Constant Functions)

Standard form: P(x) = a = a.x⁰, where a is a constant.
Graph: A horizontal line indicates that the output of the function is constant. It doesn’t depend on the input.

E.g. y = 4, (see Figure 1)

Figure 1: Graph of Zero Polynomial Function

Zero Polynomial Function

A constant polynomial function whose value is zero. In other words, zero polynomial function maps every real number to zero, f: R → {0} defined by f(x) = 0 ∀ x ∈ R. For example, let f be an additive inverse function, that is, f(x) = x + ( – x) is zero polynomial function.

Linear Polynomial Functions

Degree 1, Linear Functions

Standard form: P(x) = ax + b, where a and b are constants. It forms a straight line.
Graph: Linear functions have one dependent variable and one independent which are x and y, respectively.

In the standard formula for degree 1, a represents the slope of a line, the constant b represents the y-intercept of a line.

E.g., y = 2x+3(see Figure 2)

here a = 2 and b = 3

Figure 2: Graph of Linear Polynomial Functions

Figure 2: y = 2x + 3

Note: All constant functions are linear functions.

Quadratic Polynomial Functions

Degree 2, Quadratic Functions

Standard form: P(x) = ax²+bx+c , where a, b and c are constant.
Graph: A parabola is a curve with one extreme point called the vertex. A parabola is a mirror-symmetric curve where any point is at an equal distance from a fixed point known as Focus.

In the standard form, the constant ‘a’ represents the wideness of the parabola. As ‘a’ decreases, the wideness of the parabola increases. This can be visualized by considering the boundary case when a=0, the parabola becomes a straight line. The constant c represents the y-intercept of the parabola. The vertex of the parabola is given by

(h,k) = (-b/2a, -D/4a)

where D is the discriminant and is equal to (b²-4ac).

Note: Whether the parabola is facing upwards or downwards, depends on the nature of a.

If a > 0, the parabola faces upward.
If a < 0, the parabola faces downwards.

E.g. y = x²+2x-3 (shown in black color)

y = -x²-2x+3 (shown in blue color)

(See Figure 3)

Figure 3: Quadratic Polynomial Functions

Figure 3: y = x²+2x-3 (black) and y = x²-2x+3 (blue)

Graphs of Higher Degree Polynomial Functions

Standard form– P(x) = a_n xⁿ + a_n-1 x^n-1+.……….…+ a₀, where a₀,a₁,………,a_nare all constants.
Graph: Depends on the degree, if P(x) has degree n, then any straight line can intersect it at a maximum of n points. The constant term in the polynomial expression, i.e. a₀ here represents the y-intercept.
E.g. y = x⁴-2x²+x-2, any straight line can intersect it at a maximum of 4 points (see fig. 4)

Figure 4: Graphs of Higher Degree Polynomial Functions

Video Lesson on Quadratic Equations

Polynomial Function Questions

Q.1: What is a Polynomial?

A polynomial is defined as an expression formed by the sum of powers of one or more variables multiplied to coefficients. In its standard form, it is represented as:
a_n xⁿ + a_n-1 x^n-1+.……….…+a₂ x² + a₁ x + a₀

where all the powers are non-negative integers.

And, a₀,a₁,………,a_n∈ R

A polynomial is called a univariate or multivariate if the number of variables is one or more, respectively. So, the variables of a polynomial can have only positive powers.

Q.2: What is the Degree of Polynomial?

The degree of any polynomial expression is the highest power of the variable present in its expression. Constant (non-zero) polynomials, linear polynomials, quadratic, cubic and quartics are polynomials of degree 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 , respectively. The function f(x) = 0 is also a polynomial, but we say that its degree is ‘undefined’.

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Frequently Asked Questions on Polynomial Functions

What is meant by a Polynomial function?

A polynomial function is a function that can be expressed in the form of a polynomial. It has a general form of P(x) = a_nxⁿ + a_{n – 1}x^{n – 1} + … + a₂x² + a₁x + ao, where exponent on x is a positive integer and a_i’s are real numbers; i = 0, 1, 2, …, n.

What is a zero polynomial function?

A polynomial function whose all coefficients of the variables and constant terms are zero. In other words, zero polynomial function maps every real number to zero, f: R → {0} defined by f(x) = 0 ∀ x ∈ R.

What is the domain of a polynomial function?

The domain of a polynomial function is real numbers.

What does a quadratic polynomial function graphically represent?

A quadratic polynomial function graphically represents a parabola.