UpStudy Free Solution:
To determine which function corresponds to the given graph, we need to analyze the characteristics of each function and compare them with the graph.
The graph shows a polynomial function with the following characteristics:
- It has two local maxima and one local minimum.
- It starts from negative infinity, goes up, comes down, and then goes up again to positive infinity.
Let's analyze each function:
A. \(F( x) = x^ 2 + 5\)
- This is a quadratic function (parabola) that opens upwards.
- It has only one minimum point and no maximum points.
- This does not match the given graph.
B. \(F( x) = x^ 4 - 2x\)
- This is a quartic function.
- Quartic functions can have up to three turning points (local maxima and minima).
- This could potentially match the given graph's characteristics.
C. \(F( x) = - \frac { 1} { 2} x^ 4 - x^ 3 + x + 2\)
- This is also a quartic function but with a negative leading coefficient.
- It should open downwards at the ends, but the given graph shows it opening upwards.
- This does not match the given graph.
D. \(F( x) = x^ 3 + x^ 2 + x + 1\)
- This is a cubic function.
- Cubic functions can have up to two turning points (one maximum and one minimum).
- This does not match the given graph, which has more turning points.
Given the analysis, the function that best matches the given graph is:
B. \(F( x) = x^ 4 - 2x\)
Supplemental Knowledge
To determine which function could have created a given graph, it's important to understand the general shapes and characteristics of polynomial functions based on their degrees and leading coefficients:
- Quadratic Function (\(F( x) = ax^ 2 + bx + c\)):
- Shape: Parabola
- Opens upwards if \(a > 0\) and downwards if \(a < 0\)
- Cubic Function (\(F( x) = ax^ 3 + bx^ 2 + cx + d\)):
- Shape: S-shaped curve
- Can have one or two turning points
- Quartic Function (\(F( x) = ax^ 4 + bx^ 3 + cx^ 2 + dx + e\)):
- Shape: W-shaped or M-shaped curve (if \(a > 0\)) or inverted W/M (if \(a < 0\))
- Can have up to three turning points
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