In Mathematics, a polynomial is an algebraic expression which is in the form of P(x) = anxn + an-1xn-1+….+a1x1+a0, where an, an-1, a1, a0 are the real numbers, where an≠0. Also, we have learned the terms related to the polynomials, such as coefficients, terms, degree of a polynomial, zeroes of a polynomial and so on. The polynomial that involves one variable is called a polynomial in one variable. If a polynomial contains two variables, then it is called a polynomial in two variables, etc.
Coefficient:
A coefficient is a real number that is present along with variables.
Degree of a Polynomial:
The highest power of the variable of a given polynomial is called the degree of a polynomial. For example, the linear polynomial has a degree of 1, the quadratic polynomial has a degree of 2, the degree of the cubic polynomial is 3, and so on.
Zero of the Polynomial:
The zero of a polynomial P(x), when x=k is the value obtained by substituting x as “k”, where k is a real number.
It means that a real number k is the zero of a polynomial p(x) if p(k)=0.
Now, let us discuss the geometrical meaning of the zeroes of a linear polynomial and quadratic polynomial in detail.
Geometrical Meaning of the Zeroes of a Polynomial Examples
Geometrical Meaning of Zeroes of Linear Polynomial:
We know that a linear polynomial is in the form ax+b, where a ≠0. The graph of the linear equation, say y=ax+b is a straight line. Assume that the graph y=2x+3 is a polynomial. It means that y=2x+3 is a straight line that passes through the points (-2, -1) and (2, 7).
The graph of the linear equation y=2x+3 is given below:
From the graph, we can observe that graph y=2x+3 intersects the x-axis between x=-1 and x=-2
(i.e) The straight line intersects the x-axis at the point (-3/2, 0).
Therefore, -3/2 is the zero of the polynomial y=2x+3.
In general, we can say that a linear polynomial ax+b, where a≠0, has exactly one zero. The zero of the linear polynomial is the x-coordinate of the point where the graph of y=ax+b intersects at the x-axis.
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Geometrical Meaning of Zeroes of Quadratic Polynomial:
We know that the standard form of a quadratic polynomial is ax2+bx+c, where a≠0. Now, let us understand the geometrical meaning of zeroes of quadratic polynomials with the help of an example.
Consider the quadratic equation, y= x2-3x-4
For the given quadratic equation, first find the coordinates (x, y), by taking a few values of x.
|
x |
-2 |
-1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
y=x2-3x-4 |
6 |
0 |
-4 |
-6 |
-6 |
-4 |
0 |
6 |
Hence, the coordinates formed are (-2, 6), (-1, 0), (0, -4), (1, -6), (2, -6), (3, -4), (4, 0) and (5, 6).
Now, graph the points as shown below:
Generally, the graph of the quadratic equation, y=ax2+bx+c, where a≠0, has two types of curves such as the parabolic curve open upwards or parabolic curve open downwards, depending on whether a>0 or a<0.
From the graph, we can observe that the two zeroes of the polynomial y = x2 – 3x – 4 are -1 and 4.
The zeroes -1 and 4 are the x-coordinates of the point in which the graph, y = x2 – 3x – 4 intersects at the x-axis.
Since the quadratic equation has at most two zeroes, there exist three different cases. They are:
Case 1: The graph cuts the x-axis at two distinct points, say A and A’.
In this case, the quadratic polynomial has two zeroes.
Example:
Case 2: The graph cuts the X-axis at exactly one point, say A.
In this case, there exists only one zero.
Example:
Case 3: The graph does not cut X-axis at any point.
In this case, the curve for the given quadratic polynomial is completely above or below the x-axis. So, the quadratic polynomial has no zero in this case.
Example:
Practice Problems
Find the number of zeroes for the following graphs of polynomial equations:
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