Sketch the graph of the polynomial function $$ p(x) = 2x^4-5x^3-3x^2-6x-5 $$

Tap the blue points to see coordinates.

STEP 1:Find the x-intercepts

To find the x-intercepts solve, the equation $ \color{blue}{ 2x^4-5x^3-3x^2-6x-5 = 0 } $

The solutions of this equation are:

$$ \begin{matrix}x_1 = -0.7062 & x_2 = 3.2997 \end{matrix} $$

(you can use the step-by-step polynomial equation solver to see a detailed explanation of how to solve the equation)

STEP 2:Find the y-intercepts

To find the y-intercepts, substitute $ x = 0 $ into $ \color{blue}{ p(x) = 2x^4-5x^3-3x^2-6x-5 } $, so:

$$ \text{Y inercept} = p(0) = -5 $$

STEP 3:Find the end behavior

The end behavior of a polynomial is the same as the end behavior of a leading term.

$$ \lim_{x \to -\infty} \left( 2x^4-5x^3-3x^2-6x-5 \right) = \lim_{x \to -\infty} 2x^4 = \color{blue}{ \infty } $$

The graph starts in the upper-left corner.

$$ \lim_{x \to \infty} \left( 2x^4-5x^3-3x^2-6x-5 \right) = \lim_{x \to \infty} 2x^4 = \color{blue}{ \infty } $$

The graph ends in the upper-right corner.

STEP 4:Find the turning points

To determine the turning point, we need to find the first derivative of $ p(x) $:

$$ p^{\prime} (x) = 8x^3-15x^2-6x-6 $$

The x coordinate of the turning point is located at the zeros of the first derivative

$$ p^{\prime} (x) = 0 $$ $$ \begin{matrix}x = 2.334 \end{matrix} $$

(cleck here to see a explanation of how to solve the equation)

To find the y coordinate, substitute the above value into $ p(x) $

$$ \begin{aligned} \text{for } ~ x & = \color{blue}{ 2.334 } \Rightarrow p\left(2.334\right) = \color{orangered}{ -39.5679 }\end{aligned} $$

So the turning point is:

$$ \begin{matrix} \left( 2.334, -39.5679 \right)\end{matrix} $$

STEP 5:Find the inflection points

The inflection points are located at zeroes of second derivative. The second derivative is $ p^{\prime \prime} (x) = 24x^2-30x-6 $.

The zeros of second derivative are

$$ \begin{matrix}x_1 = 1.4254 & x_2 = -0.1754 \end{matrix} $$

Substitute the x values into $ p(x) $ to get y coordinates

$$ \begin{aligned} \text{for } ~ x & = \color{blue}{ 1.4254 } \Rightarrow p\left(1.4254\right) = \color{orangered}{ -25.8717 }\\[1 em] \text{for } ~ x & = \color{blue}{ -0.1754 } \Rightarrow p\left(-0.1754\right) = \color{orangered}{ -4.0111 }\end{aligned} $$

So the inflection points are:

$$ \begin{matrix} \left( 1.4254, -25.8717 \right) & \left( -0.1754, -4.0111 \right)\end{matrix} $$

Graphing Polynomials