Introduction to End Behavior

Object: To observe the functional values of a polynomial as the value of the independent variable increases and decreases without bound.

Exercises

1. Look at the graph of the polynomial . If you use the Graphing Calculator software program, does it look like the graph below?

We are not interested in specific values of the function, we are only interested in what happens when we take functional values of really big positive numbers or really big negative numbers.

1. Right now, what do you think will happen to the values of f(x) when taking larger positive x values, or keep moving to the right on this graph?

2. Also, right now, what do you think will happen to the values of f(x) when taking larger negative x values, or keep moving to the left on this graph?

3. Let’s make sure that our guess is true. Use the zoom out feature of the graphing software. Does your Graphing Calculator picture look like this?

4. Does this picture confirm your guesses from earlier? If it does not, what is your new guess?

5. Use the zoom out feature again. Does that new picture still confirm your guesses or has it changed again?

6. Try the zoom out feature repeatedly. Has your guessed been confirmed in your mind?

7. Fill in the blanks with your conjecture.

i. As the x values increases forever (keeps going to the right), then the y values _________________

ii. As the negative x values decreases forever (keeps going to the right), then the y values __________________

2. Try the same thing for the polynomial . Is your conjecture the same as it was for Exercise #1?

3. What are the degrees of the polynomial in Exercises #1 and #2? What do those numbers have in common? What are the leading coefficients? What do these numbers have in common?

4. Use those answers from Exercise #3 to fill in the blanks of the statement below.

If the degree of the polynomial is ____________, and the sign of the leading coefficient is __________, then the end behavior is as follows: as x approaches infinity (has a larger positive x value), then y approaches _________, as x approaches negative infinity (has a larger negative x values), then y approaches _____________.

5. Let’s try something slightly different: let’s graph the polynomial .
1. Trace your graph on the axes provided below.

2. What happens to the y values as the x values get larger?

3. What happens to the y values as the x values become larger in the negative direction?

4. Use the Zoom Out feature to see larger x values. Sketch the graph now.

5. Are your guesses still support by looking at a graph that is zoomed out?

6. Keep zooming out on your graphing software. Has your guessed been confirmed in your mind?

7. Fill in the blanks with your conjecture.

i. As the x values increases forever (keeps going to the right), then the y values _________________

ii. As the negative x values decreases forever (keeps going to the right), then the y values __________________

6. Try the same approach for . Is your conjecture still supported from Exercise #5?

7. Use those answers from Exercise #6 to fill in the blanks of the statement below.

If the degree of the polynomial is ____________, and the sign of the leading coefficient is __________, then the end behavior is as follows: as x approaches infinity (has a larger positive x value), then y approaches _________, as x approaches negative infinity (has a larger negative x values), then y approaches _____________.

8. Now let us try a different polynomial: .
1. Sketch your graph on the axes below.

2. What happens to the y values as the x values approach infinity? In other words, in what direction is the graph going as you go further to the right?

3. What happens to the y values as the x values approach negative infinity? In other words, in what direction is the graph going as you go further to the left?

4. Use the Zoom Out feature to see what happens when you have larger x values. What do you think is happening to the y values for large positive and negative x values?

5. Are your answers from parts b and c the same even after zooming out?

6. If you repeatedly zoom out, do you still get the same answers?

7. Fill in the blanks with your conjecture.

i. As the x values increases forever (keeps going to the right), then the y values _________________

ii. As the negative x values decreases forever (keeps going to the right), then the y values __________________

9. Try the same thing approach for the polynomial . Do you get the same answers when you keep zooming out?

10. Use those answers from Exercise #8 to fill in the blanks of the statement below.

If the degree of the polynomial is ____________, and the sign of the leading coefficient is __________, then the end behavior is as follows: as x approaches infinity (has a larger positive x value), then y approaches _________, as x approaches negative infinity (has a larger negative x values), then y approaches _____________.

11. Now that you have the hang out, fill in the blanks for
1. As the x values increases forever (keeps going to the right), then the y values _________________
2. As the negative x values decreases forever (keeps going to the right), then the y values __________________

12. Use those answers from Exercise #11 to fill in the blanks of the statement below.

If the degree of the polynomial is ____________, and the sign of the leading coefficient is __________, then the end behavior is as follows: as x approaches infinity (has a larger positive x value), then y approaches _________, as x approaches negative infinity (has a larger negative x values), then y approaches _____________.

13. Sometimes the results from end behavior can be expressed in a table form. Fill in the entries of the table with your answers from earlier in the worksheet.

	Degree of Polynomial
Sign of Leading Coefficient		Odd	Even
	Positive
	Negative