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Which polynomial is prime?

Which polynomial is prime?-example-1

2 Answers

5 votes

Answer:

the third one

Explanation:

User Tasleema
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1 vote

Out of the four polynomials you listed, the prime polynomial is: 2x^4 + x^3 - x + 2.

A prime polynomial is one that cannot be factored into any non-trivial products of polynomials with coefficients in the same field as the original polynomial.

We usually work with polynomials with integer coefficients, so in this case, we're looking for a polynomial that cannot be factored into products of polynomials with integer coefficients.

Here's why the others aren't prime:

x³ + 3x²-2x-6: This factors as (x+2)(x-3), making it composite (not prime).

x²-2x²+3x-6: This can be rearranged as -(x²-2x) + 3x-6, which factors into -x(x-2) + 3(x-2), making it composite.

4x^4 + 4x³-2x-2: This can be factored as 2(2x^2 + 2x - 1) further factoring the second term as 2(x-1)(x+1), making it composite.

Therefore, the only polynomial that doesn't factor further into simpler polynomials is 2x^4 + x^3 - x + 2, making it the prime polynomial.

User Serbin
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