Sign Diagrams consist of :
- horizontal line (the x- axis)
- positive/negative signs indicating that the graph is above and below the x-axis.
- critical values: the numbers written below the line which are the graph's x-intercepts and points where is it undefined.
sign diagram:
- a sign change occurs about a critical point for single factors such as (x+2) and (x-1). This indicates cutting of the x-axis
- no sign change occurs about the critical value for squared factors such as (x-2)^2. This indicates touching of the x-axis.
- function is undefined at x=0
- in general, when a factor has an odd power there is a change of sign about the critical value.
- when a factor has an even power there is NO change in sign about the critical value.
- example: draw a sign diagram : (x+3)(x-1)
- let x+3 = 0 which equals x=-3
- let x-1= 0 which equals x=1
*sorry for the inconvenience but the question marks above, in the equations, are actually x.