document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=917137>Question 917137</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> How to find the leading coefficient and degree of:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "f(x) = 12x^3 - 12x^2 - 24x\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "what I have:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "f(x) = 12x(x^2 - x - 2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "f(x) = 12x(x+1)(x-2)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x-int: (-1,0),(2,0),(0,0)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "y-int: (0,0)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Wouldn't the degree be 6 because you add the exponents so 3+2+1 = 6<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The leading coefficient is 12 because 12 has x^3 attached to it which is the highest degree term.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "When I plug this graph into a graphing calculator I get a graph pointing in different directions, so I know it must be negative.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "What am I misunderstanding?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Thank you </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #556526 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=MathLover1><B>MathLover1(20849)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=MathLover1><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=MathLover1><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=556526\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> if you have <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=f%28x%29+=+12x%5E3+-+12x%5E2+-+24x ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"f%28x%29+=+12x%5E3+-+12x%5E2+-+24x\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, the highest degree is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > (you know that by looking the term <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=12x%5Ehighlight%283-degree%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"12x%5Ehighlight%283-degree%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "since the coefficient of the term with the highest degree is called the leading coefficient, in your case it is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=12 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"12\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > (<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=highlight%2812%29x%5E3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"highlight%2812%29x%5E3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "so, the answer to your question \"Wouldn't the degree be 6 because you add the exponents so 3+2+1 = 6\" is NO...you do not add the exponents to determine degree\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+graph%28+600%2C+600%2C+-10%2C+10%2C+-20%2C+20%2C+12x%5E3+-12x%5E2-24x+%29+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+graph%28+600%2C+600%2C+-10%2C+10%2C+-20%2C+20%2C+12x%5E3+-12x%5E2-24x+%29+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >  </SPAN>\n" );
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