Someone else asked this same question earlier. This is the answer I gave them. Let me know if you have any questions.
The branch of science that deals with the identification of the substances of which matter is composed; the investigation of their properties and the ways in which they interact, combine, and change; and the use of these processes to form new substances
For a polyonomial
P(x)=ax^n+bx^(n-1)...zx^0
when n is odd, the endpoints of the graph point in oposite directions
when n is even, the endpoints of the graph point in same direction
a is the leading term
when a is positive and:
1. n is odd, the graph goes from bottom left to top right
2. n is even, the graph goes from top left to top right
when a is negative and:
1. n is odd, the graph goes from top left to bottom right
2. n is even, the graph goes from bottom left to bottom right
xintercept is where the line crosses the x axis or when y=0
yintercept is where the line crosses the y axis or when x=0
f(x)=1x^3-11x^2+36x-36
leading term is positive and odd degree
graph goes from bottom left to top right, has 1 inflection point
yint, sub 0 for all x's
f(0)=0^3-11(0)^2+36(0)-36
yintercept is y=-36 or (0,-36)
xintercept
set function equal to zero
0=x^3-11x^2+36x-36
factor
0=(x-2)(x-3)(x-6)
x=2,3,6
xintercepts are at x=2,3,6 or (2,0), (3,0) and (6,0)
