1. the smallest composite number is

hey dear the smallest composite number is 4

Step-by-step explanation:

Hello,

"Ray says the third-degree polynomial has four intercepts. Kelsey argues the function can have as many as three zeros only."

We know that Kelsey is right, a polynomial of degree 3 has maximum 3 zeroes, so it means that the graph of this polynomial has maximum 3 x-intercepts.

So how Ray can be right too?

we need to think of y-intercept, if we add the y-intercept then Ray can be right too,

as you can see in one example below

there are 3 x-intercepts and 1 y-intercept.

This being said, Ray is not always right. For instance

has only 1 zero (multiplicity 3) its graph has only 1 intercept in the point (0,0)

hope this helps