Question

What is the degree of the polynomial -x^2(x-3)(x+2)(x-5)^2?

Answer 1

I thought the highest power was the degree (2, in this case), but the answer it's giving me is 6. How is it 6?

Answer 2

yes the answer is 6

Answer 3

u can take it to simpliest form and see....... which will take time only......

Answer 4

so I have got a faster way to do it

Answer 5

the highest power of x in (x-5)^2 will be two. right?

Answer 6

With you so far.

Answer 7

similarly the highest power of x in (x-3)and (x+2) will be one. right?

Answer 8

I'm guessing we are going to be adding all the powers up?

Answer 9

ya

Answer 10

so u will get 2+1+1+2=6

Answer 11

which will be the highest power of x

Answer 12

got it?

Answer 13

Why can you do that here though? Like take -9x^3+9x-6. You couldn't add up the powers of 3 and 1 to get a degree of 4, could you?

Answer 14

no the case here is different.....

Answer 15

It is like this x^2 * x * x * x^2 = x^(2+1+1+2) = x^6

Answer 16

Ah, Ok, I think I got it now. Just muliplying them out to make it simpler kinda. Well thanks, saura.

Answer 17

yeah