Chapter 3: Problem 47
Identify the degree of each polynomial. $$19 t^{9}+4 t^{3}+25 t^{12}-11 t^{5}$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
Answer: The degree of the given polynomial is 12.
Step by step solution
01
Identify the terms in the polynomial
The given polynomial is:
$$19 t^{9}+4 t^{3}+25 t^{12}-11 t^{5}$$
Notice that there are four terms in the polynomial: \(19 t^{9}, 4 t^{3}, 25 t^{12}, -11 t^{5}\).
02
Identify the exponent of each term
Examine each term and identify the exponent (the power of the variable \(t\)). The exponents are as follows:
- For \(19 t^{9}\), the exponent is 9.
- For \(4 t^{3}\), the exponent is 3.
- For \(25 t^{12}\), the exponent is 12.
- For \(-11 t^{5}\), the exponent is 5.
03
Find the highest exponent
Compare the exponents and find the highest exponent. In this case, the highest exponent is 12 from the term \(25 t^{12}\).
04
State the degree of the polynomial
Since the highest exponent (power of the variable \(t\)) is 12, the degree of the given polynomial is 12.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Polynomials
A polynomial is a mathematical expression consisting of variables, coefficients, and exponents combined using addition, subtraction, and multiplication but not division by a variable. Polynomials are fundamental in algebra and appear in various forms and degrees. Here are some key features of polynomials:
- A polynomial can have constants, variables like \(x\) or \(t\), and numeric coefficients, such as \(-11\) or \(19\).
- The terms in a polynomial are separated by addition (+) or subtraction (-) signs.
- Each term is a product of a constant and a whole number power of the variable, such as \(4t^3\).
Exponents
Exponents in polynomials indicate how many times a variable is multiplied by itself. They play a crucial role in determining the characteristics and behavior of the polynomial.
- The exponent is a small number written above and to the right of the variable (e.g., \(t^9\) means "\(t\) to the ninth power").
- Exponents must be whole numbers in a polynomial.
- Knowing the exponents of a polynomial helps you identify its degree, which is a primary feature that describes the polynomial's complexity.
Terms of a Polynomial
The terms of a polynomial are the distinct parts separated by addition or subtraction. Each term includes a coefficient, a variable, and an exponent:
- Coefficient: This is the numeric factor in the term. For example, in \(19t^9\), 19 is the coefficient.
- Variable: The letter representing the unknown value, like \(t\) in our example.
- Exponent: The power to which the variable is raised; here, 9 in \(t^9\).
Highest Degree Term
In a polynomial, the degree is determined by the highest exponent among its terms. The term with the largest exponent is known as the highest degree term.
- The degree tells you the most significant power in the polynomial, indicating its overall behavior and growth.
- For example, in the polynomial \(19t^9 + 4t^3 + 25t^{12} - 11t^5\), the term \(25t^{12}\) has the highest exponent of 12.
- The highest degree term often drives the long-term behavior of the polynomial in terms of its graph and solutions.