SOLUTION: Can you please help me answer this question:can third order polynomials (highest term is x^3) have less than four terms. why or why not? I think it cannot have less than 4 term

Algebra ->  Polynomials-and-rational-expressions -> SOLUTION: Can you please help me answer this question:can third order polynomials (highest term is x^3) have less than four terms. why or why not? I think it cannot have less than 4 term      Log On


   

Question 290289: Can you please help me answer this question:can third order polynomials (highest term is x^3) have less than four terms. why or why not?
I think it cannot have less than 4 terms, because the entire formula is made up of 4 terms but i dont remember the formula and i cannot find it online


thank you so much for all your help!
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Sure it can. Consider x%5E3 or consider x%5E3%2Bx. They both have less than 4 terms and are third order polynomials since their degrees are 3.


Formal note: any third order polynomial is of the form ax%5E3%2Bbx%5E2%2Bcx%2Bd where 'a', 'b', 'c', and 'd' are fixed numbers. If any one term 'b' through 'd' is zero, then you'll have a 3rd degree polynomial with less than 4 terms.