Quadratic and Polynomial Functions

In this lesson…

We will be covering two classes of functions that we see regularly with regard to modeling and approximating real-world phenomena, namely polynomials and quadratic functions. The latter is a special type of the former.

Polynomials are easy to work with from a mathematical and calculus standpoint than other classes of functions with more complications such as “jaggedness” in their graphs. They can also be used to approximate any continuous function (i.e. functions that can be drawn without lifting your pencil, no matter how “jagged”) defined on a closed interval within any degree of precision you like. All of these benefits make them worthwhile to investigate.