solution: Since the product of $f$ and a polynomial with degree 1 equals a polynomial with degree 4, we know that $f$ is a polynomial with degree $4-1=\boxed{3}$.
prompt.content: <|im_start|>system
  You are a helpful assistant.<|im_end|>
  <|im_start|>user
  Suppose that $f$ is a polynomial such that \[(x-1)\cdot f(x)=3x^4+x^3 - 25x^2 +38x -17.\]What is the degree of $f$?
  Please reason step by step, and put your final answer within \boxed{{}}.<|im_end|>
  <|im_start|>assistant
  
prompt.role: user
extra_info.answer: 3
extra_info.question: Suppose that $f$ is a polynomial such that \[(x-1)\cdot f(x)=3x^4+x^3 - 25x^2 +38x -17.\]What is the degree of $f$?
extra_info.split: test