Question

What does the degree of a polynomial expression tell you about its related polynomial function? Explain your thinking. Give an example of a polynomial expression of degree three.

Answer 1

The degree of a Polynomial is the order of the HIGHEST individual term (variable) with non-zero coefficient. Take a look at this expression : 2y^7 + 5y^3 + 2 From this expression it should be obvious that y is the variable. but 2y^7 carries has the highest degree. So this is a polynomial of degree 7. This also means that the expression has 7 solutions. Since the degree of the polynomial expression gives us an idea about the solution of the equation. Similarly, 2x^9 + 5x^4 + 8xx^7. Clearly, x, is the variable but the variable with the highest coefficient is 9. Hence the equation has 9 solutions. I. e X must take 9 values if the equation must be true.