What is the general rule for determining when a graph crosses the x-axis at an x-intercept or when the graph just touches and turns away from the x-axis?Find this general rule by graphing the three...
What is the general rule for determining when a graph crosses the x-axis at an x-intercept or when the graph just touches and turns away from the x-axis?
Find this general rule by graphing the three functions below:
y = (x + 1)2(x - 2)
y = (x - 4)3(x - 1)2
y = (x - 3)2(x + 4)4
1 Answer
embizze | High School Teacher | (Level 2) Educator Emeritus
For polynomials, the graph will cross the x-axis if the multiplicity of the real root is odd, and just touch the x-axis if the multiplicity of the real root is even. (The multiplicity of the root is the number of times it occurs as a root)
(a) `y=(x+1)^2(x-2)` The graph crosses at x=2 (multiplicity 1) but touches at x=-1 (mulitplicity 2)
(b) `y=(x-4)^3(x-1)^2` The graph crosses at x=4 (multiplicity 3) but touches at x=1 (m=2)
(c) `y=(x-3)^2(x+4)^4` The graph touches at x=3 and x=-4 as the multiplicities are both even.
The graphs: (a) black, (b) red, (c) green