Question 957678
<pre>
Just follow these rules:

Look only at the leading term (the term with the largest exponent):

1. If its coefficient is POSITIVE --- UP on the RIGHT
2. If its coefficient is NEGATIVE --- DOWN on the RIGHT
3. If its exponent is EVEN -- LEFT hand behavior is 
the SAME as that of the RIGHT hand behavior.
4. If its exponent is ODD -- LEFT hand behavior is 
OPPOSITE to that of the RIGHT hand behavior.
</pre>
f(x)=-x^5+3x^3-2
<pre>

Look only at {{{-x^5}}}
The leading coefficient is NEGATIVE -- DOWN on the RIGHT.
The degree is odd -- UP on the LEFT

{{{graph(120,400,-3,3,-10,10,-x^5+3x^3-2)}}}

f(x)=x^4-3x^2+x-1

Look only at {{{x^4}}}
The leading coefficient is POSITIVE -- UP on the RIGHT.
The degree is EVEN -- UP on the LEFT.

{{{graph(120,400,-3,3,-10,10,x^4-3x^2+x-1)}}}

Edwin</pre>