Needed math help with this question.

Question

Does f(x) represent a polynomial function?

f(x)= 3x -^3 + 9x - 3

If so what is the degree and type of polynomial function?

Answer 1

Polynomial means "many terms." A polynomial function is an expression made of variables, constants, and/or positive exponents.

Is that a negative I see on the 3x^3 term (you wrote 3x-^3, is that 3x^(-3)) - if so, this is not a polynomial function. If that was a typo, it is and we can continue to the second part of the question.

The degree is the largest exponent, so in this case it's a third degree polynomial (note the 3x^3 term).