Sketch the graph of the polynomial function $$ p(x) = 6x^7-100x^6+4x^5+2x^4+7x^3+9x^2+x+4 $$

Tap the blue points to see coordinates.

STEP 1:Find the x-intercepts

To find the x-intercepts solve, the equation $ \color{blue}{ 6x^7-100x^6+4x^5+2x^4+7x^3+9x^2+x+4 = 0 } $

The solutions of this equation are:

$$ \begin{matrix}x_1 = -0.605 & x_2 = 0.7197 & x_3 = 16.6251 \end{matrix} $$

(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) = 6x^7-100x^6+4x^5+2x^4+7x^3+9x^2+x+4 } $, so:

$$ \text{Y inercept} = p(0) = 4 $$

STEP 3:Find the end behavior

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

$$ \lim_{x \to -\infty} \left( 6x^7-100x^6+4x^5+2x^4+7x^3+9x^2+x+4 \right) = \lim_{x \to -\infty} 6x^7 = \color{blue}{ -\infty } $$

The graph starts in the lower-left corner.

$$ \lim_{x \to \infty} \left( 6x^7-100x^6+4x^5+2x^4+7x^3+9x^2+x+4 \right) = \lim_{x \to \infty} 6x^7 = \color{blue}{ \infty } $$

The graph ends in the upper-right corner.

STEP 4:Find the turning points

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

$$ p^{\prime} (x) = 42x^6-600x^5+20x^4+8x^3+21x^2+18x+1 $$

The x coordinate of the turning points are located at the zeros of the first derivative

$$ p^{\prime} (x) = 0 $$ $$ \begin{matrix}x_1 = -0.0597 & x_2 = -0.3386 & x_3 = 0.4951 & x_4 = 14.2512 \end{matrix} $$

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

To find the y coordinates, substitute the above values into $ p(x) $

$$ \begin{aligned} \text{for } ~ x & = \color{blue}{ -0.0597 } \Rightarrow p\left(-0.0597\right) = \color{orangered}{ 3.9709 }\\[1 em] \text{for } ~ x & = \color{blue}{ -0.3386 } \Rightarrow p\left(-0.3386\right) = \color{orangered}{ 4.2762 }\\[1 em] \text{for } ~ x & = \color{blue}{ 0.4951 } \Rightarrow p\left(0.4951\right) = \color{orangered}{ 6.3608 }\\[1 em] \text{for } ~ x & = \color{blue}{ 14.2512 } \Rightarrow p\left(14.2512\right) = \color{orangered}{ -118955850.4294 }\end{aligned} $$

So the turning points are:

$$ \begin{matrix} \left( -0.0597, 3.9709 \right) & \left( -0.3386, 4.2762 \right) & \left( 0.4951, 6.3608 \right) & \left( 14.2512, -118955850.4294 \right)\end{matrix} $$

STEP 5:Find the inflection points

The inflection points are located at zeroes of second derivative. The second derivative is $ p^{\prime \prime} (x) = 252x^5-3000x^4+80x^3+24x^2+42x+18 $.

The zeros of second derivative are

$$ \begin{matrix}x_1 = -0.2304 & x_2 = 0.338 & x_3 = 11.8773 \end{matrix} $$

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

$$ \begin{aligned} \text{for } ~ x & = \color{blue}{ -0.2304 } \Rightarrow p\left(-0.2304\right) = \color{orangered}{ 4.1496 }\\[1 em] \text{for } ~ x & = \color{blue}{ 0.338 } \Rightarrow p\left(0.338\right) = \color{orangered}{ 5.5338 }\\[1 em] \text{for } ~ x & = \color{blue}{ 11.8773 } \Rightarrow p\left(11.8773\right) = \color{orangered}{ -79675163.2099 }\end{aligned} $$

So the inflection points are:

$$ \begin{matrix} \left( -0.2304, 4.1496 \right) & \left( 0.338, 5.5338 \right) & \left( 11.8773, -79675163.2099 \right)\end{matrix} $$

Graphing Polynomials