Question

Use complete sentences to explain how to use linear factors to determine the equation of a polynomial function

Answer 1

Answer: p(x) = a (x-b)(x-c)(x-d)

Step-by-step explanation:

The first step is to determine the degree of the polynomial.

It shall depend totally on the linear factors given for the polynomial.

If there is one, it is a linear polynomial.

If there are 2, then it is a quadratic polynomial.

If there are three then it shall be a cubic polynomial.

Now let us assume that there are three linear factors.

We multiply those factors and write the polynomial.

If x-b, x-c & x-d are the factors we write

p(x) = (x-b)(x-c)(x-d)

But as we may have a leading coefficient so we write the polynomial as

Then we go on to expand this to get the polynomial in the standard form.

Answer 2

Answer with Step-by-step explanation:

First we find the degree of polynomial.

Consider two linear factors

(x-a) and (x-b)

Multiplying these two factors to get the polynomial.

$p(x)=(x-a)(x-b)=x^2-(a+b)x+ab$

There are two linear factors .

Therefore, the degree of polynomial is 2 and the polynomial is quadratic.

Degree of polynomial=Number of linear factors

If the linear factors are three then the polynomial formed by multiplying theses factors .

Then, we get the polynomial of degree 3 and the polynomial is cubic polynomial.

It we have four linear factors.

After multiplying these four factors, we get a polynomial of degree 4.

The polynomial is bi quadratic.