Question

What does the degree of a polynomial tell you about its related polynomial function?

Answer 1

1. It tells you how many zeros or factors you can get from the polynomial:

2. You can determine the number of turning points given the degree of the polynomial. The turning points is the minimum and maximum values of the graph.

ex. f(x)=\[x^{3}+x^{2}-4x-4\]

Degree of the polynomial is 3.
It will have 3 zeros (-1,2 and -2) and also 3 factors (x+1),(x-2) and (x+2).
The number of turning points will be: 3-1 = 2.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Check this website out: http://www.purplemath.com/modules/polyends2.htm

Answer 3

Thank you!! (: