Question

for ps2 problem 2, isn't the derivation of a function only 0.0 if len(poly) < 1? since derivation of len(poly) = 1 equals the coefficient

Answer 1

If len(poly)=1 then the only term represented is the x to the zero power.\[Cx^0=C\]The derivative of a constant is zero, so the derivative of a length one list is 0.