In Exercises 59–66, perform the indicated operations. Indicate the degree of the resulting polynomial. (7x^4 y^2−5x^2 y^2+3xy)+(−18x^4 y^2−6x^2 y^2−xy)

Polynomial operations involve adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing polynomial expressions. In this case, we are focusing on addition, which requires combining like terms—terms that have the same variables raised to the same powers. Understanding how to identify and combine these terms is crucial for simplifying the expression correctly.

The degree of a polynomial is the highest power of the variable in the expression. It provides insight into the polynomial's behavior and shape. When performing operations on polynomials, determining the degree of the resulting polynomial is essential, as it influences the polynomial's classification and the methods used for further analysis.

Like terms are terms in a polynomial that share the same variable components raised to the same powers. For example, in the expression 7x^4y^2 and -18x^4y^2, both terms are like terms because they have the same variable structure. Recognizing and combining like terms is fundamental in polynomial addition, as it simplifies the expression and allows for accurate calculation of the resulting polynomial.