Question

Explain how understanding the degree of a polynomial can help you perform operations on polynomials and combining the like terms with polynomials.

Answer 1

Probably the most common thing you will be doing with polynomials is "combining like terms". This is the process of adding together whatever terms you can, but not overdoing it by trying to add together terms that can't actually be combined. Don't get careless and confuse multiplication and addition. This may sound like a silly thing to say, but it is the most commonly-made mistake. Many formulas are polynomials with more than one variable, such as the formula for the surface area of a rectangular prism: 2ab + 2bc + 2ac, where a, b, and c are the lengths of the three sides. By substituting in the values of the lengths, you can determine the value of the surface area. By applying the same principles for polynomials with one variable, you can evaluate or combine like terms in polynomials with more than one variable.

Answer 2

Thanks

Answer 3

Jsyk: The degree of a polynomial in one variable is the largest exponent in the polynomial.