How do you write a polynomial in standard form, then classify it by degree and number of terms #y^2+2y+5-3y^2-5y#?

1 Answer
Aug 24, 2016

Number of terms is 3
Degree is 2 ( from #y^2#)

Explanation:

Instead of being a function in #x# this is a function in #y#

That is: not #f(x)# but #f(y)#

Grouping terms we have:

#(y^2-3y^2)+(2y-5y)+5#

#-2y^2-3y+5#

Number of terms is 3
Degree is 2 ( from #y^2#)
'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In fact this is a quadratic in #y# and behaves in the same way as a quadratic in #x# but it is rotated by #90^0#

As we have #-2y^2# the general shape is #sup#

Tony B