Algebra Examples

Find the Behavior (Leading Coefficient Test) f(x)=-2x^3(x-1)(x+5)
Step 1
Identify the degree of the function.
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Step 1.1
Simplify and reorder the polynomial.
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Step 1.1.1
Apply the distributive property.
Step 1.1.2
Multiply by by adding the exponents.
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Step 1.1.2.1
Move .
Step 1.1.2.2
Multiply by .
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Step 1.1.2.2.1
Raise to the power of .
Step 1.1.2.2.2
Use the power rule to combine exponents.
Step 1.1.2.3
Add and .
Step 1.1.3
Multiply by .
Step 1.1.4
Expand using the FOIL Method.
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Step 1.1.4.1
Apply the distributive property.
Step 1.1.4.2
Apply the distributive property.
Step 1.1.4.3
Apply the distributive property.
Step 1.1.5
Simplify and combine like terms.
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Step 1.1.5.1
Simplify each term.
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Step 1.1.5.1.1
Multiply by by adding the exponents.
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Step 1.1.5.1.1.1
Move .
Step 1.1.5.1.1.2
Multiply by .
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Step 1.1.5.1.1.2.1
Raise to the power of .
Step 1.1.5.1.1.2.2
Use the power rule to combine exponents.
Step 1.1.5.1.1.3
Add and .
Step 1.1.5.1.2
Multiply by .
Step 1.1.5.1.3
Multiply by by adding the exponents.
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Step 1.1.5.1.3.1
Move .
Step 1.1.5.1.3.2
Multiply by .
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Step 1.1.5.1.3.2.1
Raise to the power of .
Step 1.1.5.1.3.2.2
Use the power rule to combine exponents.
Step 1.1.5.1.3.3
Add and .
Step 1.1.5.1.4
Multiply by .
Step 1.1.5.2
Add and .
Step 1.2
The largest exponent is the degree of the polynomial.
Step 2
Since the degree is odd, the ends of the function will point in the opposite directions.
Odd
Step 3
Identify the leading coefficient.
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Step 3.1
Simplify the polynomial, then reorder it left to right starting with the highest degree term.
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Step 3.1.1
Apply the distributive property.
Step 3.1.2
Multiply by by adding the exponents.
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Step 3.1.2.1
Move .
Step 3.1.2.2
Multiply by .
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Step 3.1.2.2.1
Raise to the power of .
Step 3.1.2.2.2
Use the power rule to combine exponents.
Step 3.1.2.3
Add and .
Step 3.1.3
Multiply by .
Step 3.1.4
Expand using the FOIL Method.
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Step 3.1.4.1
Apply the distributive property.
Step 3.1.4.2
Apply the distributive property.
Step 3.1.4.3
Apply the distributive property.
Step 3.1.5
Simplify and combine like terms.
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Step 3.1.5.1
Simplify each term.
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Step 3.1.5.1.1
Multiply by by adding the exponents.
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Step 3.1.5.1.1.1
Move .
Step 3.1.5.1.1.2
Multiply by .
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Step 3.1.5.1.1.2.1
Raise to the power of .
Step 3.1.5.1.1.2.2
Use the power rule to combine exponents.
Step 3.1.5.1.1.3
Add and .
Step 3.1.5.1.2
Multiply by .
Step 3.1.5.1.3
Multiply by by adding the exponents.
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Step 3.1.5.1.3.1
Move .
Step 3.1.5.1.3.2
Multiply by .
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Step 3.1.5.1.3.2.1
Raise to the power of .
Step 3.1.5.1.3.2.2
Use the power rule to combine exponents.
Step 3.1.5.1.3.3
Add and .
Step 3.1.5.1.4
Multiply by .
Step 3.1.5.2
Add and .
Step 3.2
The leading term in a polynomial is the term with the highest degree.
Step 3.3
The leading coefficient in a polynomial is the coefficient of the leading term.
Step 4
Since the leading coefficient is negative, the graph falls to the right.
Negative
Step 5
Use the degree of the function, as well as the sign of the leading coefficient to determine the behavior.
1. Even and Positive: Rises to the left and rises to the right.
2. Even and Negative: Falls to the left and falls to the right.
3. Odd and Positive: Falls to the left and rises to the right.
4. Odd and Negative: Rises to the left and falls to the right
Step 6
Determine the behavior.
Rises to the left and falls to the right
Step 7