\chapter{Polynomial and rational functions} \section{Polynomial functions}
Check your understanding
Answer the questions in your own words. \begin{enumerate} \item Explain why \(f(x) = 3x^4-5x^2+x\sqrt{5}+1\) a polynomial, but \(g(x) = 3x^4-5x^2+5\sqrt{x}+1\) is not. \item What is the degree of \(f(x)=\pi^3 x+5\)? \item What is the constant term of the polynomial \(p(x)=x^4-x^2+x\)? \item What is the coefficient of \(x\) for the polynomial \(\displaystyle g(x)=\frac{\pi x^5}{3} -\frac{\pi x^2}{6}+\frac{2\pi x}{3}\)? \item What is the maximum number of turning points that a polynomial of degree 19 could have? \item What is the maximum number of \(x\)-intercepts that a polynomial of degree 15 could have? \item Suppose that \(x_1\) is a zero of a polynomial. That means that \( (x_1,0) \) is an \(x\)-intercept for the polynomial. What else do you need to know to find out if the \(x\)-intercept is of type bouncing or crossing? \item Both the degree and the sign of the leading coefficient determine the end behavior of a polynomial. Can you explain how that works? \end{enumerate}
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