On a graph of a polynomial function....
How do you determine the sign of the leading coefficient?? Anyone?

Question

On a graph of a polynomial function....
How do you determine the sign of the leading coefficient?? Anyone?

zepp · Answer

If we have $2x^2+5x-3$, then the leading coefficient would be positive.
|dw:1337807059541:dw|

Parabola, opening upward, leading coefficient positive.

anonymous · Answer

So if the graph given to us does not have the equation, we have to come up with the equation ourselves to determine it

zepp · Answer

If we have |dw:1337807145421:dw|

Since it's going up, leading coefficient would be positive.

anonymous · Answer

or is there a way to just look at the graph and tell what the sign is

anonymous · Answer

ohh ok. what if the graph looks like this

zepp · Answer

|dw:1337807186578:dw|

Going down, leading coefficient negative.