Graphically
Graphically
Finding Solutions
Example 3
What can be said about the degree of the polynomial P(x) depicted below?
Step 1. Count the number of x-intercepts of the graph.
The graph has three x-intercepts.
Step 2. Make a statement about the comparison between the x-intercepts of the graph and the degree of the corresponding polynomial.
Since the number of x -intercepts is always equal to or less than the degree of the polynomial, this function is at least a third degree polynomial. However, it could also be a polynomial of any degree greater than three.