Consider the graph of the polynomial factor function p(x). Given that (2x+3) is a factor of p(x), which of the following could be the multiplicity of (2x+3)?

1. -1.5
2. 2
3. 1
4. 1.5

1 answer

The multiplicity of a factor of a polynomial represents how many times that factor appears in the polynomial.

If (2x+3) is a factor of p(x), then it means that when we divide p(x) by (2x+3), we get a remainder of 0. This means that (2x+3) appears in the factored form of p(x) as many times as its multiplicity.

Therefore, the multiplicity of (2x+3) must be a positive whole number. Therefore, the only possible option from the given choices is:

3. 1