Question

Let f(x) = (2x-3)(-x+1)
Find the degree and leading coefficient.

Answer 1

I have the degree which is 2 but how do you find the leading coefficient?

Answer 2

do you know the definition of coefficient?

Answer 3

it is the number before the variable

Answer 4

Foil it out and put it in standard form. The leading coefficient is the first number term with the highest degree. Like 3x^2 + 4x, 3 is the leading coefficient.

Answer 5

OK, the leading coefficient is -1.

Answer 6

Eh, I don't know what the leading coefficient it. I didn't Foil it out. If you show your steps I can tell you if you did a mistake.

Answer 7

-2x^2+2x+3x-3=-2x^2+5x-3

Answer 8

1) Forget you ever heard of "FOIL". Just learn to multiply.
2) This is an eyeball problem. The leading coefficient is found my multiplying the highest order terms.

f(x) = (2x-3)(-x+1)

This is immediate: Degree is 2, Leading Coefficient is -2. No need to multiply the whole world.

Answer 9

-2 or -1? I got it wrong for -2

Answer 10

how?

Answer 11

I see what I did. I put -2x for the leading coefficient and my teacher took off a point.

Answer 12

Again, This is immediate: Degree is 2, Leading Coefficient is -2.

Answer 13

o_o

(2x-3)(-x+1)

-2x^2 + 2x + 3x - 3

-2x^2+ 5x - 3

The leading coefficient is the number with the highest degree. The highest degree is 2, x^2. So the leading coefficient is -2.

\(\ \sf \Large \color{blue}{-2}x\color{red}{^2} + 5x - 3 \)

\(\ \sf \Large \color{blue}{Blue}\longrightarrow Coefficient \)
\(\ \sf \Large \color{red}{Red}\longrightarrow Degree \)

Answer 14

I use FOIL a lot probably too much when it is not necessary.

Answer 15

Ehh, doesn't matter. ^_~

Answer 16

It's never necessary. Seriously, just learn to multiply.

Answer 17

By highest degree I mean to say the variable that has the highest degree. Not the number.

Answer 18

Hmm, but isn't multiplying essentially the same as FOIL?

Answer 19

No, not really. ^

Answer 20

You have to multiply in order to FOIL.

Answer 21

I know, but FOILing isn't necessary.

Answer 22

No. "FOIL" works only for one binomial multiplied by another binomial. It has VERY LIMITED use. It confuses far more students than it helps. How many students have memorized "FOIL" and then had no idea how to multiply trinomials? MANY! It should go away!

Answer 23

Trinomials aren't hard to multiply @tkhunny

Answer 24

i still dont know what foil stands just know how to mutliply binomials

Answer 25

In my problem, there was a binomial by another binomial so would it have made sense if I had not seen the leading coefficient right away to FOIL?

Answer 26

Who said it was difficult? I'm talking about risks vs. benefits. FOIL has far more risks than benefits. It should go away and never be heard from again.

Answer 27

@sweetburger, it stands for First, Inside, Last, Out

Answer 28

No, that's FILO! :-)

Answer 29

Yes, lol. First, Outside, Inside, Last.

Answer 30

I just realized that when I multiply it all out that what I have is a trinomial and not a binomial.