Question about Polynomial Functions From Data

In summary, the conversation discussed a chart given by a teacher with X-Values ranging from 1 to m+2, and the question of what the m-2/m+2 stuff meant. It was clarified that m is just a variable and the functions being examined are y = x, y = x^2, and y = x^3. It was also mentioned that m can be treated as a constant or variable in this problem.
  • #1
Rowah
17
0
My teacher gave me a chart to fill in that has X-Values that look like this:

x

1

2

3

4

.
.
.

m - 2

m - 1

m

m + 1

m + 2

My question: What the heck is that m - 2 / m + 2 stuff?


Above the chart he gave me, it says:

"Examine the following functions for the set of x-values

{1,2,3,4,..., m - 2, m - 1, m, m + 1, m + 2,...}

I have absolutely no idea what "m" is.. Can someone please lend me a hand?
 
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  • #2
Rowah said:
My teacher gave me a chart to fill in that has X-Values that look like this:

x

1

2

3

4

.
.
.

m - 2

m - 1

m

m + 1

m + 2

My question: What the heck is that m - 2 / m + 2 stuff?


Above the chart he gave me, it says:

"Examine the following functions for the set of x-values

{1,2,3,4,..., m - 2, m - 1, m, m + 1, m + 2,...}

I have absolutely no idea what "m" is.. Can someone please lend me a hand?

im going to assume that m is just some variable??

what are the functions?? That would give more insight

i think the m is just to show what the function would look like if m-2 was plugged into it
 
  • #3
The functions are: y = x, y = x^2, y = x^3
 
  • #4
Rowah said:
Above the chart he gave me, it says:

"Examine the following functions for the set of x-values

{1,2,3,4,..., m - 2, m - 1, m, m + 1, m + 2,...}

If that is the entirety of the problem, you can treat m as if it were some constant or variable.
 
  • #5
Ok thanks waterchan, that's what my teacher said today :D
 

FAQ: Question about Polynomial Functions From Data

What is a polynomial function?

A polynomial function is a mathematical expression consisting of variables and coefficients, with the variables raised to non-negative integer powers. It can also be written as a sum of monomials, where each monomial is a single term with a coefficient and a variable raised to a power.

How do you determine the degree of a polynomial function?

The degree of a polynomial function is the highest power of the variable in the expression. For example, the polynomial function 3x^2 + 2x + 1 has a degree of 2, since the variable x is raised to the power of 2. The degree of a polynomial function can also be determined by counting the number of terms in the expression.

How do you graph a polynomial function from data?

To graph a polynomial function from data, you will need to plot the given data points on a coordinate plane. Then, use a ruler or a graphing calculator to draw a smooth curve that passes through all the data points. This curve represents the graph of the polynomial function.

What is the relationship between the degree of a polynomial function and the number of roots?

The degree of a polynomial function determines the maximum number of roots or solutions it can have. For example, a polynomial function of degree 2 can have a maximum of 2 solutions, while a polynomial function of degree 3 can have a maximum of 3 solutions. However, it is important to note that not all polynomial functions will have the maximum number of solutions.

How can polynomial functions be used to model real-world data?

Polynomial functions can be used to model real-world data by fitting a curve to the given data points. This curve can then be used to make predictions or estimate values for data that were not originally given. For example, a quadratic polynomial function can be used to model the trajectory of a ball thrown in the air, or a cubic polynomial function can be used to model the growth of a population over time.

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