Detailed Summary of the Section on Polynomials
In this section, we examine polynomials defined as expressions made up of variables raised to whole-number powers, emphasizing their highest degree. The types of polynomials discussed include:
- Linear Polynomials: These are of degree 1 (e.g.,
ax + b
) and have one root, found where the graph intersects the x-axis.
- Quadratic Polynomials: With degree 2 (e.g.,
ax² + bx + c
), they can have up to 2 roots, indicated by their x-intercepts on a graph.
- Cubic Polynomials: These degree 3 polynomials (e.g.,
ax³ + bx² + cx + d
) can have at most 3 roots.
The concept of zeroes is crucial as it indicates values for which the polynomial equals zero. The section illustrates how to compute zeroes using various examples and emphasizes the geometric significance of these zeroes as x-coordinates where the polynomial graph intersects the x-axis. Additionally, it discusses relationships between the zeroes and coefficients of polynomials, such as the sum and product of zeroes for quadratic and cubic polynomials, concluding with the insight that a polynomial of degree n can intersect the x-axis at most at n points.