# Thread: Another question involving polynomials in C

1. ## Another question involving polynomials in C

I have this question here, but I don't really understand what they're asking.

If P(z) is a polynomial of degree 4 with all of its coefficients real with ai and bi
$a, b$ $\epsilon$ $R$ as two of its zeros, then the term that does not contain z is:
A) ab B) a - b C) a + b D) a^2b^2 C) a^3b^3

So what do they mean by, "the term that does not contain z"?

David.

2. Originally Posted by Bucephalus
I have this question here, but I don't really understand what they're asking.

If P(z) is a polynomial of degree 4 with all of its coefficients real with ai and bi
$a, b$ $\epsilon$ $R$ as two of its zeros, then the term that does not contain z is:
A) ab B) a - b C) a + b D) a^2b^2 C) a^3b^3

So what do they mean by, "the term that does not contain z"?

David.

Apparently the free coefficient...whoever wrote that questions deserves to be thrown into a pool full of sharks.

Tonio

3. Hello, Bucephalus!

$\text{If }P(z)\text{ is a polynomial of degree 4 with all of its coefficients real}$
$\text{with }ai\text{ and }bi\text{ as two of its zeros }(a,b, \in R)$
$\text{then the term that does not contain }z\text{ is:}$

. . $(1)\;ab\qquad (2)\; a - b \qquad (3)\;a + b \qquad (4)\;a^2b^2 \qquad (5)\; a^3b^3$

$\text{So what do they mean by, "the term that does not contain }z\text{"?}$

A polynomial in $\,z$ of degree 4 with real coefficient might be:

. . . $3z^4 - 7z^3 + 4z^2 - 3z + 5$

Can you guess which is "the term that does not contain $\,z$"?

4. Originally Posted by tonio
Apparently the free coefficient...whoever wrote that questions deserves to be thrown into a pool full of sharks.

5. Oh, um, um, 5?
Thanks.