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True or False? An nth-degree polynomial has at most (n-1) critical numbers

User Mykal
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Final Answer:

An nth-degree polynomial has at most n critical numbers, where a critical number is a point where the derivative is zero or undefined, affecting the polynomial's behavior. The answer is False.

Step-by-step explanation:

The number of critical points of an nth-degree polynomial is at most n. A critical point occurs where the derivative of the polynomial is either zero or undefined. For an nth-degree polynomial, the degree of the polynomial also represents the maximum number of turning points or changes in direction of the graph. Each turning point corresponds to a critical point.

If the polynomial is of degree n, it can have at most n critical points. This is because the number of critical points is related to the degree of the polynomial and represents the points where the derivative is zero or undefined, influencing the behavior of the polynomial's graph.

User Anthony McGrath
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