Question

Which of the following is a polynomial?

Answer 1

D

Explanation:

Terms are separated by addition and subtraction symbols.

Polynomials consist of terms that are constant and/or variable. The variable terms must have 0 or positive exponents. Polynomials will not consist of division of variable expressions.

Examples of polynomials:

`5`

`5x`

`6-x`

`24x^9-x`

Examples of non-polynomials:

`√(x)`

`(x+2)/(x-4)`

In general a polynomial when written in standard form should be comparable to:

`a_nx^n+a_(n-1)x^(n-1)+\cdots a_3x^3+a_2x^2+a_1x+a_0`

where the
`a`'s could be zero and all the exponents,n, are positive or 0.

D is comparable since all of these are 0 except
`x_4` which is 1 and
`x_0` which is -2.

Also the other choices have either division by variable expressions and/or negative exponents on variables.