Question

Organize the following polynomial expressions from least to greatest based on their degree:


x + 2xyz
9x^3y^2
18x^2 + 5ab − 6y
4x^4 + 3x^2 − x − 4

Answer 1

@Vocaloid

Answer 2

Do you know what a degree is?

Answer 3

No.

Answer 4

Well, if you do, it'll make this problem a lot easier.
The degree of a term is the exponent of the term. For example the term x^2 has a degree of 2.

Answer 5

Oooooh

Answer 6

@steve816 Can you help more?

Answer 7

look at each answer choice

then, for each of the answer choices, look at each term separately

for each term, add the exponents together
the greatest sum of the exponents will be the degree

Answer 8

as an example:

x + 2xyz

the first term is x and the sum of exponents is 1
the second term is 2xyz and the sum of the exponents is 1 + 1 + 1 = 3
so the degree is 3

keep going for all four expressions

Answer 9

then is the 2nd and 3rd choice 5?

Answer 10

2nd choice is 5
3rd choice is not 5. remember to look at each term separately

Answer 11

look at each term separately, add the exponents for each of the three terms separately, then see which of the three sums is the greatest

Answer 12

I still get 5...

Answer 13

@Vocaloid I still get 5... I'm sorry..

Answer 14

look at each term separately

what is the sum of the exponents on 18x^2?

Answer 15

2

Answer 16

good, what is the sum of the exponents on 5ab?

Answer 17

2

Answer 18

good, now what about -6y?

Answer 19

1

Answer 20

good, so our sums are 2, 2, and 1

the highest sum is 2, so the degree is 2, not 5

Answer 21

Ooooh I though you add them.

Answer 22

good, so whats the degree for the 4th choice?

Answer 23

Wait, but doesnt that make the 1st and 2nd both 3?

Answer 24

nope

Answer 25

2nd choice:

2x^3y^2

add the exponents

Answer 26

(you add the exponents WITHIN a term, not between terms)

Answer 27

So the order would be 4-2-1-3?

Answer 28

uh, not quite, least to greatest, remember?

Answer 29

Reverse it.

Answer 30

either way its not correct

lets start from the top, whats the degree for the first choice?

Answer 31

3

Answer 32

@Vocaloid ????

Answer 33

good, now second choice?

Answer 34

5

Answer 35

good, third choice?

Answer 36

2