By the Factor Theorem, what can be said about the polynomial function s(x) if s(−5)=−4 ?

Question

Possible answers:

a) x+5is not a factor of s(x)

b) s(x)has no real zeros

c) x+5 is a factor of s(x)

d) s(x)has 5 real zeros

Answer 1

(-5,-4) is a point on the graph of f(x)

if s(x) is a vertical linear function then x+5 is a factor

if s(x) is a linear function with a defined slope, then x+5 is not a factor

if s(x) is a downward opening parabola with vertex (-5,-4), it has no real factors

if s(x) is a 5th degree polynomial equation whose graph intersects the x axis 5 times, it has 5 factors and 5 real zeros.

Given the choices, without some further information, None of the Above would be the correct answer.