Can a polynomial have four solutions but only two x-intercepts? In 1–2 sentences, explain how this can or cannot occur.

1 answer

Yes, a polynomial can have four solutions but only two x-intercepts if it has complex (non-real) solutions. For example, if a polynomial has two real roots (x-intercepts) and two complex conjugate roots, it would have a total of four solutions while only intersecting the x-axis at two points.