Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Polynomial Addition
Polynomial addition involves combining like terms from two or more polynomials. Like terms are those that have the same variable raised to the same power. To perform the addition, align the terms based on their degrees and sum the coefficients of like terms. The result is a new polynomial that retains the highest degree of the original polynomials.
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Standard Form of a Polynomial
The standard form of a polynomial is expressed as a sum of terms in descending order of their degrees. This means the term with the highest exponent comes first, followed by terms with lower exponents. Writing a polynomial in standard form helps in easily identifying its degree and simplifies further operations or analysis.
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Degree of a Polynomial
The degree of a polynomial is the highest exponent of the variable in the polynomial expression. It provides insight into the polynomial's behavior, such as the number of roots and the end behavior of its graph. For example, in the polynomial 4x^3 + 2x^2 - x + 5, the degree is 3, indicating it is a cubic polynomial.
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