Which of the expressions below is NOT a polynomial?
A. (1/3)x + 4
B. 3x^2
C. 1/x+ x^2
D. 7x4 + 8x^2 + 5

Question

Which of the expressions below is NOT a polynomial? 
	A.	(1/3)x + 4
	B.	3x^2
	C.	1/x+ x^2
	D.	7x4 + 8x^2 + 5

bahrom7893 · Answer

What is the definition of a polynomial?

cenaida · Answer

an expression of more than two algebraic terms, esp. the sum of several terms that contain different powers of the same variable(s

bahrom7893 · Answer

Different powers.. What kind of powers? Those powers can only be certain types of numbers.

bahrom7893 · Answer

As soon as you find out what numbers the powers can be you can get your answer.

thejax · Answer

The simple one! If you wanna more help, then Sal will fo so,email @ sal@khanacademy.org ! hope this helps

cenaida · Answer

@TheJax do you know the answer? is it A?

bahrom7893 · Answer

I know the answer.. it's not A. Come on, polynomials can only have certain numbers as their powers. What are those numbers?

cenaida · Answer

is it C?

bahrom7893 · Answer

Polynomial terms can only have nonnegative integer powers (aka 0, 1, 2, 3, 4....)
In C the first term has a negative power: 1/x = x^(-1), so yes, you're right, it is C

cenaida · Answer

yay! thanks! :D you just made me feel smart! lol

thejax · Answer

There are different types you know like, quadratic cubic...

bahrom7893 · Answer

They're still polynomials, and thus can only have nonnegative integer powers..