Chapter 5: Problem 4
What is the degree of the polynomial \(2 x^{3}+8 x^{2}+3 x^{4}+2 x+10\) ?
Short Answer
Expert verified
The degree of the polynomial is 4.
Step by step solution
01
Identifying Terms of the Polynomial
Identify each term in the polynomial: \( 2x^3, 8x^2, 3x^4, 2x, \) and \( 10 \). Each term consists of a coefficient and a variable raised to some power.
02
Determining the Degree of Each Term
For each term, determine the exponent of the variable. The exponents are: 3 for \(2x^3\), 2 for \(8x^2\), 4 for \(3x^4\), 1 for \(2x\), and 0 for the constant \(10\).
03
Finding the Highest Degree
Compare the degrees of each term: 3, 2, 4, 1, and 0. The highest exponent among these is 4.
04
Conclusion
The degree of the polynomial is determined by the term with the highest exponent, which is \(3x^4\), thus the degree of the polynomial is 4.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
polynomial terms
When we talk about polynomial terms, each term is a combination of numbers and variables that are multiplied together. The structure of a polynomial can be identified by looking at its terms, each separated by a plus (+) or minus (-) sign.
Polynomials are expressions of the form:
Polynomials are expressions of the form:
- Coefficients: These are the constant numbers in each term. For example, in the term \(2x^3\), the coefficient is 2.
- Variables: These are letters that represent numbers, such as \(x\) in the polynomial \(2x^3 + 8x^2 + 3x^4 + 2x + 10\).
- Exponents: This is the power to which the variable is raised. In \(2x^3\), the exponent is 3.
exponents in algebra
Exponents in algebra indicate how many times a number is multiplied by itself. In the context of polynomials, they show us the power to which the variable in a term is raised. Understanding exponents is crucial for solving many algebraic problems!
Here are a few key points:
Here are a few key points:
- Positive exponents: Numbers like \(x^3\) mean \(x\) is multiplied by itself three times.
- Zero exponents: Any number raised to the zero power, such as \(x^0\), equals 1. This is important in polynomial terms like the constant "10", where the variable part is considered \(x^0\).
- Comparing exponents: When viewing a polynomial, compare the exponents to determine characteristics like the degree of the polynomial.
highest degree term
The concept of the highest degree term in a polynomial is essential for determining the degree of the entire polynomial. A polynomial's degree is the largest exponent in any of its terms.
To find the highest degree term, you simply need to compare the exponents of all terms. Here is a simple process:
To find the highest degree term, you simply need to compare the exponents of all terms. Here is a simple process:
- Identify each term and its exponent. For example, in \(2x^3 + 8x^2 + 3x^4 + 2x + 10\), check the exponents: 3, 2, 4, 1, and 0.
- Recognize that constants, like "10", contribute an exponent of 0.
- The highest exponent determines the degree of the polynomial. Thus, among the provided terms, \(3x^4\) has the highest degree, 4.