Can someone explain to me how to write the function in standard form?

Given: f(x)=-5x+2x^3-x^4+1

What's the degree?

What's the Leading coefficient?

Question

Can someone explain to me how to write the function in standard form?

Given: f(x)=-5x+2x^3-x^4+1

What's the degree?

What's the Leading coefficient?

anonymous · Answer

@abb0t

abb0t · Answer

To write it in standard form, you need to write it by highest power first. That means 4>3>2....

So x$\sf \color{red}{^4}$ MUST be first. Can you rewrite the others in order? Try it.

anonymous · Answer

Sooo x^4+2x^2+5x+1

Is that right?

abb0t · Answer

Yessir.

abb0t · Answer

The highest is the degree is 4
The coefficient is the number in front of that polynomial. In this case, you have _x$^4$, which means __ <-- is your leading coefficient.

abb0t · Answer

That number is?

anonymous · Answer

4?

abb0t · Answer

No. That is the degree! The coefficient is the term in front of the leading "x".

anonymous · Answer

Okay, I'm lost. Do we have to like subtract the 4 and the 3? Or something?

anonymous · Answer

Yeah, we already did that ^^ He's helping me find the leading coefficient.

abb0t · Answer

1 is the leading coefficient. Because you have: $\sf \color{red}{1}x^4$, and remember there is like an invisible 1 in front.

anonymous · Answer

OHH.........! Thanksss <3

anonymous · Answer

What about this equation:

$$f(x)=3x^3+8+\sqrt{5}x^5-x$$

anonymous · Answer

Does the 5 go first? then 3 then 8 then x right?