Final answer:
The degree of a polynomial with zeros -2, 1, 3, and 4 is 4, because there are four unique factors corresponding to these zeros, indicating a polynomial of the fourth degree. The correct option is (c) 4.
Step-by-step explanation:
The degree of a polynomial is the highest power of the variable in the polynomial when it is expressed in its standard form. If a polynomial has zeros at -2, 1, 3, and 4, it means that the polynomial can be factored into (x + 2)(x - 1)(x - 3)(x - 4). Each of these factors corresponds to a root of the polynomial, and because there are four unique factors, the polynomial must be of the fourth degree. This is because the polynomial will have a term with the variable raised to the fourth power, which is the product of the variables in each of these linear factors.
The correct option in the final answer is, therefore, (c) 4. It's important to choose only one option, and it is clear from the given zeros that the polynomial must be of the fourth degree since a polynomial's degree is always equal to the number of its roots, assuming that each root corresponds to a first-degree factor and there are no repeated roots leading to higher degree factors.