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Study Guides > College Algebra CoRequisite Course

Zeros and Multiplicity

Learning Outcomes

  • Identify zeros of polynomial functions with even and odd multiplicity.
Graphs behave differently at various x-intercepts. Sometimes the graph will cross over the x-axis at an intercept. Other times the graph will touch the x-axis and bounce off. Suppose, for example, we graph the function [latex]f\left(x\right)=\left(x+3\right){\left(x - 2\right)}^{2}{\left(x+1\right)}^{3}[/latex].

Notice in the figure below that the behavior of the function at each of the x-intercepts is different.

Graph of h(x)=x^3+4x^2+x-6. The behavior of a graph at an x-intercept can be determined by examining the multiplicity of the zero.
The x-intercept [latex]x=-3[/latex] is the solution to the equation [latex]\left(x+3\right)=0[/latex]. The graph passes directly through the x-intercept at [latex]x=-3[/latex]. The factor is linear (has a degree of 1), so the behavior near the intercept is like that of a line; it passes directly through the intercept. We call this a single zero because the zero corresponds to a single factor of the function. The x-intercept [latex]x=2[/latex] is the repeated solution to the equation [latex]{\left(x - 2\right)}^{2}=0[/latex]. The graph touches the axis at the intercept and changes direction. The factor is quadratic (degree 2), so the behavior near the intercept is like that of a quadratic—it bounces off of the horizontal axis at the intercept.

[latex]{\left(x - 2\right)}^{2}=\left(x - 2\right)\left(x - 2\right)[/latex]

The factor is repeated, that is, the factor [latex]\left(x - 2\right)[/latex] appears twice. The number of times a given factor appears in the factored form of the equation of a polynomial is called the multiplicity. The zero associated with this factor, [latex]x=2[/latex], has multiplicity 2 because the factor [latex]\left(x - 2\right)[/latex] occurs twice. The x-intercept [latex]x=-1[/latex] is the repeated solution of factor [latex]{\left(x+1\right)}^{3}=0[/latex]. The graph passes through the axis at the intercept but flattens out a bit first. This factor is cubic (degree 3), so the behavior near the intercept is like that of a cubic with the same S-shape near the intercept as the function [latex]f\left(x\right)={x}^{3}[/latex]. We call this a triple zero, or a zero with multiplicity 3. For zeros with even multiplicities, the graphs touch or are tangent to the x-axis at these x-values. For zeros with odd multiplicities, the graphs cross or intersect the x-axis at these x-values. See the graphs below for examples of graphs of polynomial functions with multiplicity 1, 2, and 3. Three graphs. The first is a single zero graph, where p equals 1. The graph is of a line with a slight curve. The second graph is a zero with multiplicity 2 graph where p equals 2. The graph is u-shaped, with both positive and negative ends pointed upwards (positive). The third graph is a zero with multiplicity 3 graph, where p equals 3. The graph is shaped somewhat like an s. For higher even powers, such as 4, 6, and 8, the graph will still touch and bounce off of the x-axis, but for each increasing even power the graph will appear flatter as it approaches and leaves the x-axis. For higher odd powers, such as 5, 7, and 9, the graph will still cross through the x-axis, but for each increasing odd power, the graph will appear flatter as it approaches and leaves the x-axis.

A General Note: Graphical Behavior of Polynomials at x-Intercepts

If a polynomial contains a factor of the form [latex]{\left(x-h\right)}^{p}[/latex], the behavior near the x-intercept h is determined by the power p. We say that [latex]x=h[/latex] is a zero of multiplicity p. The graph of a polynomial function will touch the x-axis at zeros with even multiplicities. The graph will cross the x-axis at zeros with odd multiplicities. The sum of the multiplicities is the degree of the polynomial function.

How To: Given a graph of a polynomial function of degree [latex]n[/latex], identify the zeros and their multiplicities.

  1. If the graph crosses the x-axis and appears almost linear at the intercept, it is a single zero.
  2. If the graph touches the x-axis and bounces off of the axis, it is a zero with even multiplicity.
  3. If the graph crosses the x-axis at a zero, it is a zero with odd multiplicity.
  4. The sum of the multiplicities is the degree n.

Example: Identifying Zeros and Their Multiplicities

Use the graph of the function of degree 6 to identify the zeros of the function and their possible multiplicities. Three graphs showing three different polynomial functions with multiplicity 1, 2, and 3.

Answer: The polynomial function is of degree n which is 6. The sum of the multiplicities must be 6. Starting from the left, the first zero occurs at [latex]x=-3[/latex]. The graph touches the x-axis, so the multiplicity of the zero must be even. The zero of –3 has multiplicity 2. The next zero occurs at [latex]x=-1[/latex]. The graph looks almost linear at this point. This is a single zero of multiplicity 1. The last zero occurs at [latex]x=4[/latex]. The graph crosses the x-axis, so the multiplicity of the zero must be odd. We know that the multiplicity is 3 and that the sum of the multiplicities must be 6.

Try It

Use the graph of the function of degree 5 to identify the zeros of the function and their multiplicities. Graph of an even-degree polynomial with degree 6.

Answer: The graph has a zero of –5 with multiplicity 1, a zero of –1 with multiplicity 2, and a zero of 3 with multiplicity 2.

Try It

Use the graph below to find the zeros of the degree 6 function and their multiplicities. Graph of a polynomial that goes through/touches the x-axis at (-3,0), (-2,0), and (1,0) [practice-area rows="2"][/practice-area]

Answer:

Zero Multiplicity
[latex](-3,0)[/latex] 1
[latex](-2,0)[/latex] 2
[latex](1,0)[/latex] 3

Determining End Behavior

As we have already learned, the behavior of a graph of a polynomial function of the form

[latex]f\left(x\right)={a}_{n}{x}^{n}+{a}_{n - 1}{x}^{n - 1}+...+{a}_{1}x+{a}_{0}[/latex]

will either ultimately rise or fall as x increases without bound and will either rise or fall as x decreases without bound. This is because for very large inputs, say 100 or 1,000, the leading term dominates the size of the output. The same is true for very small inputs, say –100 or –1,000. Recall that we call this behavior the end behavior of a function. As we pointed out when discussing quadratic equations, when the leading term of a polynomial function, [latex]{a}_{n}{x}^{n}[/latex], is an even power function, as x increases or decreases without bound, [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex] increases without bound. When the leading term is an odd power function, as x decreases without bound, [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex] also decreases without bound; as x increases without bound, [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex] also increases without bound. If the leading term is negative, it will change the direction of the end behavior. The table below summarizes all four cases.
Even Degree Odd Degree
11 12
13 14

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