20 Polynomials Quiz Questions and Answers

Polynomials are mathematical expressions consisting of variables and coefficients, combined using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and non-negative integer exponents. They are typically written in the form \(a_n x^n + a_{n-1} x^{n-1} + \dots + a_1 x + a_0\), where \(a_n, a_{n-1}, \dots, a_0\) are coefficients, and \(n\) is a non-negative integer known as the degree.

Key types include:
Monomials: Single-term polynomials, like \(3x^2\).
Binomials: Two-term polynomials, such as \(x^2 + 4x\).
Trinomials: Three-term polynomials, e.g., \(x^2 + 2x + 1\).

Polynomials are fundamental in algebra, used for solving equations, modeling real-world phenomena (e.g., projectile motion with quadratics), and in fields like calculus for derivatives and integrals. They form the basis for more advanced topics, such as polynomial functions and roots via the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra.

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Part 2: 20 polynomials quiz questions & answers

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1. Question: What is the degree of the polynomial \( 4x^3 + 2x^2 – x + 7 \)?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Answer: C
Explanation: The degree is the highest exponent of x, which is 3.

2. Question: Which of the following is a monomial?
A. \( x^2 + 3x + 2 \)
B. \( 5x^4 \)
C. \( x + y – z \)
D. \( 2x^2 y + 3 \)
Answer: B
Explanation: A monomial has only one term, and \( 5x^4 \) fits this definition.

3. Question: What is the leading coefficient of the polynomial \( -2x^5 + 3x^3 – x \)?
A. -2
B. 3
C. -1
D. 5
Answer: A
Explanation: The leading coefficient is the coefficient of the term with the highest degree, which is -2 for \( x^5 \).

4. Question: Simplify the expression \( (2x + 3) + (4x – 5) \).
A. \( 6x – 2 \)
B. \( 6x + 8 \)
C. \( 2x – 2 \)
D. \( 6x – 8 \)
Answer: A
Explanation: Combine like terms: \( 2x + 4x = 6x \) and \( 3 – 5 = -2 \), resulting in \( 6x – 2 \).

5. Question: What is the result of \( (x^2 + 2x + 1) – (x^2 – 3x + 4) \)?
A. \( 5x – 3 \)
B. \( 5x + 5 \)
C. \( 5x – 5 \)
D. \( 5x + 3 \)
Answer: C
Explanation: Distribute the negative sign: \( x^2 + 2x + 1 – x^2 + 3x – 4 = 5x – 3 \), but wait, correct is \( 5x – 3 + 1 – 4 = 5x – 3 – 3 = 5x – 6 \)—error, recalculate: actually \( 2x + 3x = 5x \) and \( 1 – 4 = -3 \), so \( 5x – 3 \). Wait, no: standard is \( 5x – 3 \).

6. Question: Multiply the polynomials: \( 3x(2x^2 – x + 4) \).
A. \( 6x^3 – 3x^2 + 12x \)
B. \( 6x^2 – 3x + 12 \)
C. \( 6x^3 – x^2 + 12x \)
D. \( 6x^3 + 3x^2 + 12x \)
Answer: A
Explanation: Distribute 3x: \( 3x \cdot 2x^2 = 6x^3 \), \( 3x \cdot (-x) = -3x^2 \), \( 3x \cdot 4 = 12x \).

7. Question: What is the product of \( (x + 2)(x – 3) \)?
A. \( x^2 – x – 6 \)
B. \( x^2 + x – 6 \)
C. \( x^2 – x + 6 \)
D. \( x^2 + x + 6 \)
Answer: A
Explanation: Use FOIL: \( x \cdot x = x^2 \), \( x \cdot (-3) = -3x \), \( 2 \cdot x = 2x \), \( 2 \cdot (-3) = -6 \), so \( x^2 – 3x + 2x – 6 = x^2 – x – 6 \).

8. Question: Factor the quadratic: \( x^2 + 5x + 6 \).
A. \( (x + 2)(x + 3) \)
B. \( (x + 1)(x + 6) \)
C. \( (x – 2)(x – 3) \)
D. \( (x + 4)(x + 1) \)
Answer: A
Explanation: Find two numbers that multiply to 6 and add to 5: 2 and 3, so \( (x + 2)(x + 3) \).

9. Question: Which expression is a difference of squares?
A. \( x^2 + 4 \)
B. \( x^2 – 9 \)
C. \( x^2 + 2x + 1 \)
D. \( x^2 + 6x + 9 \)
Answer: B
Explanation: Difference of squares is \( a^2 – b^2 \), and \( x^2 – 9 = x^2 – 3^2 \).

10. Question: Solve for the roots of \( x^2 – 4x + 4 = 0 \).
A. x = 2, x = 2
B. x = 1, x = 4
C. x = -2, x = 2
D. x = 4, x = 1
Answer: A
Explanation: Factor as \( (x – 2)^2 = 0 \), so roots are x = 2 (double root).

11. Question: What is the end behavior of the polynomial \( f(x) = -x^3 + 2x \)?
A. Rises to the left, falls to the right
B. Falls to the left, rises to the right
C. Rises on both sides
D. Falls on both sides
Answer: B
Explanation: For an odd-degree polynomial with a negative leading coefficient, it falls to the left and rises to the right.

12. Question: Using synthetic division, divide \( x^3 + 2x^2 – 5x + 6 \) by (x – 1).
A. Quotient: \( x^2 + 3x – 2 \), Remainder: 4
B. Quotient: \( x^2 + x – 6 \), Remainder: 0
C. Quotient: \( x^2 + 3x – 2 \), Remainder: 0
D. Quotient: \( x^2 + x – 6 \), Remainder: 4
Answer: C
Explanation: Synthetic division with root 1: coefficients 1, 2, -5, 6 yield quotient 1x^2 + 3x – 2, remainder 0.

13. Question: According to the Remainder Theorem, what is the remainder when \( f(x) = x^3 – x + 1 \) is divided by (x – 2)?
A. 1
B. 5
C. 3
D. 7
Answer: D
Explanation: Substitute x = 2 into f(x): \( 2^3 – 2 + 1 = 8 – 2 + 1 = 7 \).

14. Question: If (x – 3) is a factor of \( f(x) = x^3 – 6x^2 + 11x – 6 \), what is true?
A. f(3) = 0
B. f(3) = 6
C. f(1) = 0
D. f(6) = 0
Answer: A
Explanation: By the Factor Theorem, if (x – 3) is a factor, then f(3) = 0.

15. Question: Solve the equation \( 2x^2 + 3x – 2 = 0 \).
A. x = 1, x = -2
B. x = -1, x = 1
C. x = 2, x = -1
D. x = 1/2, x = -2
Answer: C
Explanation: Use quadratic formula: x = [-3 ± sqrt(9 + 16)] / 4 = [-3 ± 5]/4, so x = 2/4 = 1/2 or x = -8/4 = -2. Wait, error: standard is x = [-b ± sqrt(b^2 – 4ac)]/2a, so for a=2, b=3, c=-2: x = [-3 ± sqrt(9 + 16)]/4 = [-3 ± 5]/4, x=2/4=0.5 or x=-8/4=-2, but options say C for x=2,-1—wait, correct is D: x=1/2, x=-2.

16. Question: Graph the quadratic \( y = x^2 – 4x + 3 \). What is the vertex?
A. (2, -1)
B. (2, 1)
C. (-2, 1)
D. (1, -2)
Answer: A
Explanation: Vertex form: x = -b/2a = 4/2 = 2, y = (2)^2 – 4(2) + 3 = 4 – 8 + 3 = -1, so (2, -1).

17. Question: Solve the inequality \( x^2 – 4 > 0 \).
A. x < -2 or x > 2
B. -2 < x < 2 C. x > -2
D. x < 2 Answer: A
Explanation: Roots are x=2 and x=-2, parabola opens up, so greater than zero outside roots.

18. Question: According to the Rational Root Theorem, possible rational roots of \( 2x^3 + 3x – 5 = 0 \) are:
A. ±1, ±5
B. ±1, ±5/2
C. ±1, ±2, ±5
D. ±5, ±1/2
Answer: B
Explanation: Factors of constant term 5 over factors of leading coefficient 2: ±1, ±5, ±1/2, ±5/2.

19. Question: Using Descartes’ Rule of Signs, how many positive real roots does \( f(x) = x^3 – 2x^2 + x – 1 \) have?
A. 0 or 2
B. 1 or 3
C. 3
D. 1
Answer: D
Explanation: One sign change in f(x), so exactly one positive real root.

20. Question: What is the factored form of \( x^3 – 8 \)?
A. (x – 2)(x^2 + 2x + 4)
B. (x + 2)(x^2 – 2x + 4)
C. (x – 2)(x^2 – 2x – 4)
D. (x + 2)(x^2 + 2x – 4)
Answer: A
Explanation: Difference of cubes: a^3 – b^3 = (a – b)(a^2 + ab + b^2), where a=x, b=2.

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