Algebra II help please.

Question

What is the maximum number of turning points in the graph of P(x) = 2x² + 14x - 7?


a) 1

b) 2

c) 3

d) 4

Answer 1

Hi Maria,

 

This concept of turning points has to do with the degree of the polynomial. The first step in one of these questions is to determine this degree, or the highest power of x. Here it is 2.

 

In general, the maximum number of turning points a polynomial can have is one less than the degree.

 

I hope this helped!

Answer 2

If turning means:

 

No. of Curvature or No. of Zero-slopes

 

Since that is on second-degree (highest exponent of function is 2), it's a parabola, meaning it will only have one critical point which is the vertex, meaning it will only have one curvature.

 

So the answer is 1.