Lesson 3: Solving Polynomial Equations

 

Focus

 

Designers may describe curves using polynomials, but polynomials can be used to help plan materials for a project. To produce a final product, a designer could use polynomials to describe the materials required to cover a specific area. Could a polynomial function be used to describe the amount of material required to produce a quilt?

 

In this lesson you will solve polynomial equations of degree 3 and higher. As part of the process, you will learn mathematically equivalent, but faster, methods for determining possible factors of polynomials and performing polynomial division.

Lesson Outcomes

 

At the end of this lesson you will be able to

• use the zero-product property when solving polynomial equations
• use a faster method for determining possible factors of polynomials
• divide polynomials using synthetic division

Lesson Questions

 

You will investigate the following questions:

• How do you solve polynomial equations involving polynomials of degree 3 or higher?
• How are solutions to equations, factors of polynomials, and x-intercepts of graphs related to one another?

Assessment

 

Your assessment may be based on a combination of the following tasks:

• completion of the Lesson 3 Assignment (Download the Lesson 3 Assignment and save it in your course folder now.)
• course folder submissions from Try This and Share activities
• additions to Glossary Terms
• work under Project Connection