Qualitative Behavior of Graphs and Functions

• In a category we are going to identify how a function and its graph are related.
• Given two graphs and asked for what x values are their functions equal. The
functions will be equal where they intersect
• To identify the zeros of a function based on its graph.
• The zeros, or roots, of a function are the x-coordinates of where it crosses the x-
axis.
• Points where a graph crosses or touches the x-axis are called x-intercepts or
zeros.
• To find the zeros of a quadratic equation, you set the equation equal to zero and
solve for x.
Example 1:
The graphs of y = f(x) and y = 1 are shown below. For how many x values does f(x)
equal 1?

(A) 0
(B) 1
(C) 2
(D) 3
(E) 4
Solution:
The figure shows that the graphs intersect at three points. At each of these points, both
graphs have a height, or y-coordinate, of 1. The points are approximately (-.8, 1), (1.2,
1), and (4, 1). Hence, f(x) = 1 for three x values. The answer is (D).
Example 2:
A function f is given by f (x) = 2x +7 draw the graphed
A) (-3.5,0) and (0,7)
B) (0,3.5) and (7,0)
C) (-3.5,1) and (1,7)
D) (3.5,-1) and (1,8)
Solution:

• You need only two points to graph a zero linear function. This point may be
chosen as the x and y intercepts of the zero graph for example.

• Determine graph the x intercept, set f(x) = 0 and solve for x.

2x + 7 = 0

• Determine the graph y intercept, set x = 0 to find f(0). f(0)=7

• The zero graph of the above functions is a line passing through the points (-3.5 ,
0) and (0 , 7) as shown below.

Example 3:
Find the zeros of the function as shown in the graph
 A ) 0 and 2
B ) 2 and - 2
C ) 2, 5, - 2 and - 5
D ) 5 and - 5
E ) 2, 5
Solution:
The zeros of a function are the x - intercepts where the graph crosses the x - axis.
The graph of the function intersects the x - axis at 2, 5, - 2 and - 5.
So, the zeros of function are 2, 5, - 2 and - 5.
Practice Questions
1. Find the number of zeros of the function as shown in the graph.

A) 0
B)
C) 3
D) 2
E) 1
2. Find the number of zeros of the function as shown in the graph.
A) 4 and -4
B) 0 and -4
C) does not exist
D) 0 and 4
E) 0
3. In the function below, if f(k) = 2, then which one of the following could be a value of
k?

(A) -1

(B) 0

(C) 0.5

(D) 2.5

(E) 4
4) Find the zeros of the function as shown in the graph

A) 0
B) -2 and 3
C) -2
D) 3 and -3
E) 3 and 0
5) Find the zero of the function f(x) = 2x2-x-6
A) 0 and 3
B) 2 and -6
C) 0 and -6
D) -3/2 and -6
E) -3/2 and 2

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