What is the general function form of a linear polynomial?

The general function form of a linear polynomial is expressed as f(x) = ax + b, where "a" and "b" are constants and "a" is not equal to zero. This expression represents a straight line when graphed on a coordinate plane, with "a" determining the slope of the line and "b" representing the y-intercept — the point where the line crosses the y-axis.

In contrast, the other options contain higher degree terms. The second option includes a quadratic polynomial form, which consists of a term with x squared. The third option represents a cubic polynomial with terms up to x cubed, and the fourth option describes a quartic polynomial, featuring terms up to x to the fourth power. Each of these forms includes complexities that are not present in a simple linear polynomial. Thus, the first option distinctly represents the necessary characteristics of a linear polynomial.