Write the following polynomial in descending powers of the variable and with no missing powers. 2x^5+x^3-9x+17

Question

anonymous · Answer

$$2x ^{5}+x ^{3}-9x+17$$

anonymous · Answer

Combine like terms first, always combine like terms. This gives you less numbers to work with, what do you think should be done after that?

anonymous · Answer

Not sure need help on it :/

anonymous · Answer

Well, when after you combine like terms you end up with -7x^7 + 17 , do you agree?

anonymous · Answer

yes ok i'm getting it now

anonymous · Answer

What's your next step?

anonymous · Answer

you find out which are the missing terms?

anonymous · Answer

Yes that's correct. So what are they?

anonymous · Answer

are they $$x ^{4} and x ^{2}$$

anonymous · Answer

If my math is correct, that would be it.

anonymous · Answer

would it be $$2x ^{5}+0x ^{4}-9x+0x ^{2}+17$$

anonymous · Answer

Yes, but the 0x is not needed because the 0 isn't technically, anything at all. It's nonexistent in that situation.

anonymous · Answer

Good job, do you understand this style of problem now?

anonymous · Answer

oh ok so i would take off the 0x?

anonymous · Answer

Yes, so it would be 2x^5  + x^4 - 9x + x^2 + 17

anonymous · Answer

oh ok thank you so much yes it helped :)