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Module 6 Critical Skills Packet

What is a factor?_____________________________________________________________________

How do factors of polynomials relate to its graph? _______________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________


If (x-2) is a factor of ! + 4 12, then ( ! + 4 12) ( 2) = _____________.


Write the following polynomial in factored form and graph it:
= 2 ! + 2 ! + 12



List as many characteristics as you can about the above function:







Factor each expression completely.

1. 9! + 18! 4 8


2. ! 7 ! + 10






3. ! + 1000

4. 3 ! + 11 ! + 6







5. ! 81



6. 25 ! 25 ! + 1

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Analyze each polynomial function below and create a sketch of the graph. Consider
the end behavior, zeros, maxima and minima (global and local) and intervals of
increasing and decreasing.

7. = 4 ! 9 ! 8. = 8 ! 27












9. = 6! + 13! 5 10. = 2 ! 32











11. A biologist has found that the number of branches on a certain rare tree in its
first few years of life can be modeled by the polynomial = 4 ! + . The
number of leaves on each branch can be modeled by the polynomial
= 2 ! + 3 ! + , where y is the number of years after the tree reaches a height
of 6 feet. Write a polynomial describing the total number of leaves on the tree.





Divide by using long division.
12. (2x 3 + 14x 2 4x 48) (2x + 4)

13. ( x 3 + 12x 2 4) ( x 3)

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Divide by using synthetic division.

14. (9x 2 3x + 11) ( x 6)

15. (3x 4 2x 2 + 1) ( x + 2)

16. Consider the function P(x) = 4x 3 12x 2 .

a) Use direct substitution to evaluate P(3).
b) Use synthetic division to perform the operation (4x 3 12x 2) (x 3) .

c) What do you observe?

Determine if the given binomial is a factor of the polynomial. If it is, factor the
polynomial.
17. (x + 5); P(x) = x 3 + 6x 2 x 30

18. (x 1); P(x) = x 3 5x 2 x +1

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Solve.
19. The total weight of the cargo entering a seaport each year can be modeled by the
function C(t ) = 0.2t 3 + 1000t 2 + 10t + 50,000, where t is the number of years since
the port was opened. The average weight of cargo delivered by each ship is
modeled by the function A(t ) = 0.1t + 500. Write an expression describing the
number of ships entering the port each year.