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A real root is when a quadratic equation, or the graph of a polynomial, crosses the x axis, or when the y coordinate is equal to 0. On any polynomial to the degree of two, when graphed the line follows a smooth arc in the shape of a "U" or and upside down "U". Since there are only two prongs to the parabola, or arc, it can only cross the x axis twice, if at all. So there can only be 2 real roots.

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Q: What is the greatest number of real roots a polynomial of degree 2 can have?
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Is it true that the degree of polynomial function determine the number of real roots?

Sort of... but not entirely. Assuming the polynomial's coefficients are real, the polynomial either has as many real roots as its degree, or an even number less. Thus, a polynomial of degree 4 can have 4, 2, or 0 real roots; while a polynomial of degree 5 has either 5, 3, or 1 real roots. So, polynomial of odd degree (with real coefficients) will always have at least one real root. For a polynomial of even degree, this is not guaranteed. (In case you are interested about the reason for the rule stated above: this is related to the fact that any complex roots in such a polynomial occur in conjugate pairs; for example: if 5 + 2i is a root, then 5 - 2i is also a root.)


At most how many unique roots will a third-degree polynomial have?

A third-degree equation has, at most, three roots. A fourth-degree polynomial has, at most, four roots. APEX 2021


How can you quickly determine the number of roots a polynomial will have by looking at the equation?

In the complex field, a polynomial of degree n (the highest power of the variable) has n roots. Some of these roots may be multiple roots. However, if the domain is the real numbers (or a subset) then there is no easy way. The degree only gives the maximum number of roots - there may be no real root. For example x2 + 1 = 0.


How many unique roots will a third degree polynomial function have?

It can have 1, 2 or 3 unique roots.


How many real roots do we have if the polynomial equation is in degree six?

Such an equation has a total of six roots; the number of real roots must needs be even. Thus, depending on the specific equation, the number of real roots may be zero, two, four, or six.

Related questions

What is the relationship between the degree of a polynomial and the number of roots it has?

In answering this question it is important that the roots are counted along with their multiplicity. Thus a double root is counted as two roots, and so on. The degree of a polynomial is exactly the same as the number of roots that it has in the complex field. If the polynomial has real coefficients, then a polynomial with an odd degree has an odd number of roots up to the degree, while a polynomial of even degree has an even number of roots up to the degree. The difference between the degree and the number of roots is the number of complex roots which come as complex conjugate pairs.


How many real roots will a 3rd degree polynomial have?

A third degree polynomial could have one or three real roots.


Is it true that the degree of polynomial function determine the number of real roots?

Sort of... but not entirely. Assuming the polynomial's coefficients are real, the polynomial either has as many real roots as its degree, or an even number less. Thus, a polynomial of degree 4 can have 4, 2, or 0 real roots; while a polynomial of degree 5 has either 5, 3, or 1 real roots. So, polynomial of odd degree (with real coefficients) will always have at least one real root. For a polynomial of even degree, this is not guaranteed. (In case you are interested about the reason for the rule stated above: this is related to the fact that any complex roots in such a polynomial occur in conjugate pairs; for example: if 5 + 2i is a root, then 5 - 2i is also a root.)


At most how many unique roots will a fourth degree polynomial have?

4, the same as the degree of the polynomial.


At most how many unique roots will a third-degree polynomial have?

A third-degree equation has, at most, three roots. A fourth-degree polynomial has, at most, four roots. APEX 2021


How can you quickly determine the number of roots a polynomial will have by looking at the equation?

In the complex field, a polynomial of degree n (the highest power of the variable) has n roots. Some of these roots may be multiple roots. However, if the domain is the real numbers (or a subset) then there is no easy way. The degree only gives the maximum number of roots - there may be no real root. For example x2 + 1 = 0.


How many unique roots will a third degree polynomial function have?

It can have 1, 2 or 3 unique roots.


At most, how many unique roots will a fourth-degree polynomial have?

Four.Four.Four.Four.


How many real roots do we have if the polynomial equation is in degree six?

Such an equation has a total of six roots; the number of real roots must needs be even. Thus, depending on the specific equation, the number of real roots may be zero, two, four, or six.


At most how many unique roots will a fifth-degree polynomial have?

5, Using complex numbers you will always get 5 roots.


What is the minimum number of roots an odd powered polynomial will have?

1


What is the least degree of a polynomial with the roots 3 0 -3 and 1?

The polynomial P(x)=(x-3)(x-0)(x+3)(x-1) is of the fourth degree.