A monomial is an expression with only one term.
Option A, 4, is a constant term and thus a monomial.
Options B, C, and D have more than one term and are not monomials.
The correct answer is 4 .
Explanation
Understanding Monomials A monomial is an algebraic expression consisting of only one term. A term can be a constant, a variable, or a product of constants and variables. We need to identify which of the given options is a monomial.
Analyzing the Options Let's examine each option: A) 4 is a constant term, which can be considered a monomial. B) 3 x + 4 has two terms: 3 x and 4 . Therefore, it is not a monomial. C) 2 x − 1 has two terms: 2 x and − 1 . Therefore, it is not a monomial. D) 3 x 2 + 2 x − 1 has three terms: 3 x 2 , 2 x , and − 1 . Therefore, it is not a monomial.
Identifying the Monomial Based on the analysis, only option A, which is the constant 4, is a monomial because it consists of only one term.
Final Answer Therefore, the correct answer is A) 4.
Examples
Monomials are fundamental in algebra and appear in various real-world applications. For instance, calculating the area of a square with side length 's' is represented by the monomial s 2 . Similarly, the simple interest earned on a principal amount can be expressed as a monomial if the rate and time are constant. Understanding monomials helps in simplifying complex algebraic expressions and solving equations efficiently.