Question

How does the multiplicity of a zero affect the graph of the polynomial function? Select answers from the drop-down menus to correctly complete the statements. The zeros of a seventh degree polynomial function are 1, 2 (multiplicity of 3), 4, and 6 (multiplicity of 2). The graph of the function will cross through the x-axis at 1 only . The graph will only touch (be tangent to) the x-axis at Choose... . At the zero of 2, the graph of the function will Choose... the x-axis.

Answer 1

Step-by-step ex-plane

The zeros of a polynomial function can be used to determine how the graph behaves at those points. The multiplicity of a zero also plays an important role in shaping the graph of a polynomial function.

The graph of the seventh degree polynomial function with zeros 1, 2 (multiplicity of 3), 4, and 6 (multiplicity of 2) will cross the x-axis at 1 only. This is because the zero at 1 has a multiplicity of 1.

The graph will only touch (be tangent to) the x-axis at 2. This is because the zero at 2 has a multiplicity of 3.

At the zero of 2, the graph of the function will flatten out against the x-axis.

Therefore, the correct answers are:

- The graph of the function will cross through the x-axis at 1 only.

- The graph will only touch (be tangent to) the x-axis at 2.

- At the zero of 2, the graph of the function will flatten out against the x-axis.