b.

Let’s dive into the realm of polynomials and their fascinating historical journey! Polynomials have roots tracing back to ancient civilizations, including the Babylonians who used rudimentary forms of these equations over 4,000 years ago. Fast forward to the 17th century, where the remarkable work of mathematicians like René Descartes and John Wallis laid down the foundation for polynomial theory as we know it today, integrating them into calculus and modern mathematics.

Now, when it comes to dealing with polynomials like the one you presented, a common mistake is overlooking the impact of signs and exponents, which can lead to erroneous conclusions. When simplifying or solving these equations, make sure to distribute signs carefully and collect like terms accurately. Double-checking your factorizations and using techniques like synthetic division can also save you from the pitfall of making simple arithmetic errors in calculations!