The $2^{\text{nd}}$ degree polynomial $$y = (x - 2)(x + 1)$$ is the product of two linear functions: $$y = x - 2 \text{ and } y = x + 1 \text{.}$$ The $1^{\text{st}}$ degree polynomials each had one root. Where are the roots of the $2^{\text{nd}}$ degree polynomial? Answer: ? It has both roots of the linear functions. It has different roots than the linear functions. Roots? There are no roots.