How do you write the polynomial #a^3(a^2 + a + 1)# in standard form and how many terms and degree is it?

1 Answer
Sep 11, 2015

It is a polynomial of 5th degree. In standard form it is:

#a^5+a^4+a^3#

Explanation:

In such expression you have to multiply #a^3# by every term in the brackets, so:

#a^3*(a^2+a+1)=a^5+a^4+a^3#

To find the degree of a polynomial you look at the highest exponent to which #x# is raised and which has a non-zero coefficient. In this case the exponent is #5#, so the degree is also #5#. (If there is no coefficient, you treat such expression as if there was number #1# #a^5=1*a^5#)