5. Heinz boasts that he can predict the degree of a polynomial function just by looking at the end behavior. Can Heinz do this? Explain.

Question

5.	Heinz boasts that he can predict the degree of a polynomial function just by looking at the end behavior. Can Heinz do this? Explain.

ash2326 · Answer

@Katt7 what do you mean by end behavior?

anonymous · Answer

end behavior is like the odd or even degree in the polynomial function @ash2326

kmeis002 · Answer

Well, you have began to partiall answer your question. You have said that the end behavior can signify odd or even highest degrees, such as 
$$f(x) = x^{3} $$
approaches -infinity from the left and positive from the right. However, I would ask you to graph 
$$f(x) = x^3 + 3x  $$
and
$$f(x) = x^5 - 5x^2 + x$$

Just by looking at both end behaviours, would you be able to tell what degree the function has?

agent0smith · Answer

No, you can't predict the degree - only whether the highest power of x is odd or even.