Evaluating polynomial functions for specific variables

Octave scripts use a vector of the coefficients in descending order to represent a polynomial function. Afterwards, the command polyval() can be used to evaluate the function for specific variables. For example, consider this function:

• y = 3x² - 3x - 6

# Display the y value when x is 3 p = [3 -3 -6]; polyval( p, 3 ) # Put the variables into a vector to calculate over several x variables p = [3 -3 -6]; x = -3:3; polyval( p, x )