Question

Han is multiplying 10x^4 by 0.5x^3 and gets 5x^7 he says that 0.5x^3 is not a polynomial because 0.5 is not an integer.what is the error in his thinking ?explain your reasoning

Answer 1

Answer:

Answer in Explanation

Step-by-step explanation:

His reasoning is wrong. We can evaluate the validity of his reasoning by looking at the basics of what a polynomial is.

In the real sense of it, what makes a polynomial a polynomial is the power to which the variable is raised and not the integer attached to the variable.

In this case, we do not even have an integer attached.

What makes a polynomial a polynomial is that the variable is raised to an exponent or power which is a positive whole number ( integer)

In this case, while x^2 is a polynomial, x^-2 is not and also x^1/2 is not

Only x^2 is qualified as a polynomial because it is the only expression having its powers in positive integers

Hence; 0.5x^2 is a polynomial since it is raised to a positive whole number (integer)