What is the end behavior of f(x) = x^3 + 4xf(x)=x3+4x?

2 Answers
Jul 15, 2018

End behavior : Down ( As x -> -oo , y-> -oox,y),

Up ( As x -> oo , y-> oox,y )

Explanation:

f(x)= x^3 + 4 xf(x)=x3+4x The end behavior of a graph describes far left

and far right portions. Using degree of polynomial and leading

coefficient we can determine the end behaviors. Here degree of

polynomial is 33 (odd) and leading coefficient is ++.

For odd degree and positive leading coefficient the graph goes

down as we go left in 33 rd quadrant and goes up as we go

right in 11 st quadrant.

End behavior : Down ( As x -> -oo , y-> -oox,y),

Up ( As x -> oo , y-> oox,y),

graph{x^3 + 4 x [-20, 20, -10, 10]} [Ans]

Jul 15, 2018

lim_(xtooo) f(x)=oo

lim_(xto-oo)f(x)=-oo

Explanation:

To think about end behavior, let's think about what our function approaches as x goes to +-oo.

To do this, let's take some limits:

lim_(xtooo) x^3+4x=oo

To think about why this makes sense, as x balloons up, the only term that will matter is x^3. Since we have a positive exponent, this function will get very large quickly.

What does our function approach as x approaches -oo?

lim_(xto-oo) x^3+4x=-oo

Once again, as x gets very negative, x^3 will dominate the end behavior. Since we have an odd exponent, our function will approach -oo.

Hope this helps!