Cubic Parent Functions Solutions

Polynomial Parent Functions
Type Linear Quadratic Cubic
Parent equation y = x  y=x2  y=x3
Degree 1 2 3
Domain and Range domain:x|x range:y|y domain:x|x range:y|y, y0 domain:x|x range:y|y
Quadrants Q1 and Q3 Q1 and Q2 Q1 and Q3
Because the x- and y-coordinates will always have the same value the y-coordinates will always be positive, because any number squared is positive when the x-value is positive, the y-value is positive, and when the x-value is negative, the y-value is negative
Other Characteristics slope m=1 parabola, u-shaped symmetric graph

Axis of symmetry is x=0, the y-axis
 
Intersects graph Polynomial parent functions intersect the coordinate plane at the origin: (0, 0)

Example 5

Graph the cubic parent function. Name the domain and range in interval and set-builder notation. Then name the end behavior of the graph.

 y=x3

x y
–2 –8
–1 –1
0 0
1 1
2 8

degree 3: odd

Interval notation 

domain:, range:,  

Set-builder notation

domain:x|x range:y|y

End behavior

As x+, fx+, and as x,  fx

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