Suppose that a polynomial function $p(x)$ crosses the horizontal line $y = 1$ at exactly one point, crosses the horizontal line $y = 3$ at exactly three points, and crosses the horizontal line $y = 5$ at exactly five points ($p$ is not tangent at any point to any of those three horizontal lines). What is the least possible degree of $p$?
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<|im_start|>user
Suppose that a polynomial function $p(x)$ crosses the horizontal line $y = 1$ at exactly one point, crosses the horizontal line $y = 3$ at exactly three points, and crosses the horizontal line $y = 5$ at exactly five points ($p$ is not tangent at any point to any of those three horizontal lines). What is the least possible degree of $p$?
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user
5
Suppose that a polynomial function $p(x)$ crosses the horizontal line $y = 1$ at exactly one point, crosses the horizontal line $y = 3$ at exactly three points, and crosses the horizontal line $y = 5$ at exactly five points ($p$ is not tangent at any point to any of those three horizontal lines). What is the least possible degree of $p$?
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