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Polynomial Function

A polynomial function is any function of the form




where the coefficients a0, a1, a2, …, an are real numbers and n is a whole number. Polynomial functions are evaluated by replacing the variable with a value. The instruction “evaluate the polynomial function P( x) when x is replaced with 4” is written as “find P(4).”

Example 1: If P( x)=3 x3 − 2 x2 + 5 x + 3, find P(−4).




Example 2: If f ( x)=3 x2 − 4 x + 5, find f ( x + h).




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