Question

A biologist studied the populations of white-sided jackrabbits and black-tailed jackrabbits over a 5-year period. The biologist modeled the populations, in thousands, with the following polynomials where x is time, in years.

White-sided jackrabbits: 5.5x^2 – 9.2x + 6.9
Black-tailed jackrabbits: 5.5x^2 + 9.9x + 1.3

What polynomial models the total number of white-sided and black-tailed jackrabbits?

Answer 1

When adding polynomials you just add the coefficients. So, you just say (5.5+5.5)x^2 + (-9.2+9.9)x + (6.9+1.3) is the polynomial that gives number of both added together.

Answer 2

11x2 – 0.7x + 8.2

Answer 3

11x2+0.7x+8.2