Math basics › Quadratics and polynomials
Polynomials
Degree tells you a lot
The highest power. A degree-n polynomial has at most n roots and at most n − 1 turns.
Ends
Even degree: both ends go the same way. Odd degree: opposite ways. A negative leading coefficient flips both.
Roots and factors are the same fact
If x = r is a root then (x − r) is a factor, and the other way round.