SOLUTION: Which of the following is not a polynomial? Please show work. A) 24 B) 4x3 + 5x – 1 C) 2x – D) 3xy2 + xy

Algebra ->  Rational-functions -> SOLUTION: Which of the following is not a polynomial? Please show work. A) 24 B) 4x3 + 5x – 1 C) 2x – D) 3xy2 + xy       Log On


   



Question 117806: Which of the following is not a polynomial? Please show work.
A) 24 B) 4x3 + 5x – 1 C) 2x – D) 3xy2 + xy

Answer by solver91311(24713) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I'm not sure what the minus sign hanging off the end of answer C is supposed to denote, but be that as it may, all four of the choices are, in fact, polynomials.

A) is a monomial (meaning it is a 1 term polynomial) of degree 0 (meaning the exponent on the variable is zero, and anything to the zero power is 1. In other words, the constant term 24 could be written as 24x%5E0.

B) is a trinomial (three terms) of degree 3 (the largest exponent on any term is 3)

C) is monomial of degree 1

D) is a binomial of degree 3. It is degree 3 because the degree is determined by the sum of the exponents in multivariate terms. 3xy%5E2=3%2Ax%5E1%2Ay%5E2 and 1 + 2 = 3. Contrast this with 3%28xy%29%5E2 which would be a multivariate term of degree 4 because 3%28xy%29%5E2=3x%5E2y%5E2

I would be very curious to learn which of the answers your instructor believes to be correct and why.

Hope this helps,
John