How do you write a polynomial in standard form, then classify it by degree and number of terms 6x^5+3x^3-7x^5-4x^3?

1 Answer
Mar 15, 2018

Degree 5 and 3 terms. See explanation below

Explanation:

A polynomial (n degree) in standard form is given by

p(x)=a_0+a_1x+a_2x^2+a_3x^3+...+a_(n-1)x^(n-1)+a_nx^n

where some of a_i could be zero. If no one of a_i is zero, the polyinomial is complete, otherwise is incomplete

In our case p(x)=6x^5+3x^2-7x^5-4x^3 is polynomial incomplete of degree 5 (bigest exponent). But we can resume in this equivalent polynomial expression (due to terms of same degree)

p(x)=(6-7)x^5-4x^3+3x^2=-x^5-4x^3+3x^2 which has three terms