-continous smooth functions having no corners or gaps
-no horizontal segments
-if the degree is n, the graph has at most n x axis
-maximum number of turning points is n-1
-polynomial of degree n has at most n-1 local extrema
-at zero of even multiplicity, the graph touches but doesn't cross the x axis
-at zero of odd multiplicity, the graph crosses the x axis
-if degree is even, the graph ends in the same direction
-if the degree is odd, the graph ends in opposite directions
-if the leading coeffienct is positive, the graph ends in quadrant 1
-if the leading coefficient is negative, the graph ends in quadrant 4