We know that

1) The degree of a polynomial is the highest degree of its terms
2) The leading term in a polynomial is the highest degree term
3) The leading coefficient of a polynomial is the coefficient of the leading term
Therefore

The coefficient of first term of a polynomial written in standard (descending order) form is the coefficient of the leading term, thus is called the leading coefficient.

the answer is
The leading coefficient

8 0

3 years ago

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If f(x)=x^3−x, what is the average rate of change of f(x) over the interval [1, 5]? a)29.5 b)30 c)43 d)120

avanturin [10]

$\bf slope = m = \cfrac{rise}{run} \implies 
\cfrac{ f(x_2) - f(x_1)}{ x_2 - x_1}\impliedby 
\begin{array}{llll}
average~rate\\
of~change
\end{array}\\\\
-------------------------------\\\\
f(x)= x^3-x \qquad 
\begin{cases}
x_1=1\\
x_2=5
\end{cases}\implies \cfrac{f(5)-f(1)}{5-1}
\\\\\\
\cfrac{[5^3-5]~-~[1^3-1]}{4}\implies \cfrac{125-5~~-~~0}{4}\implies \cfrac{120}{4}\implies 30$

7 0

3 years ago

Marine biologists have determined that when a shark detectsthe presence of blood in the water, it will swim in the directionin w

siniylev [52]

Solution :

a). The level curves of the function :

$C(x,y) = e^{-(x^2+2y^2)/10^4}$

are actually the curves

$e^{-(x^2+2y^2)/10^4}=k$

where k is a positive constant.

The equation is equivalent to

$x^2+2y^2=K$

$\Rightarrow \frac{x^2}{(\sqrt K)^2}+\frac{y^2}{(\sqrt {K/2})^2}=1, \text{ where}\ K = -10^4 \ln k$

which is a family of ellipses.

We sketch the level curves for K =1,2,3 and 4.

If the shark always swim in the direction of maximum increase of blood concentration, its direction at any point would coincide with the gradient vector.

Then we know the shark's path is perpendicular to the level curves it intersects.

b). We have :

$\triangledown C= \frac{\partial C}{\partial x}i+\frac{\partial C}{\partial y}j$

$\Rightarrow \triangledown C =-\frac{2}{10^4}e^{-(x^2+2y^2)/10^4}(xi+2yj),$ and

$\triangledown C$ points in the direction of most rapid increase in concentration, which means $\triangledown C$ is tangent to the most rapid increase curve.