Multiple choice

If one of the zeros of a quadratic polynomial of the form $x^2 + ax + b$ is the negative of the other, then it

  1. has no linear term and the constant term is negative

  2. has no linear term and the constant term is positive

  3. can have a linear term but the constant term is negative

  4. can have a linear term but the constant term is positive
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A Correct answer
AI explanation

If one root of x^2 + ax + b is the negative of the other, their sum is zero, meaning the coefficient of x (the linear term) must be zero. Since the product of these identical magnitude but opposite sign roots equals the constant term b, and their product is negative, the constant term must be negative.

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