SOLUTION: 9x^2 + 2x^5+ 8x-3 answer: 2x^5: 5 need a full break down of why the answer is 2x^5:5

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Question 170920: 9x^2 + 2x^5+ 8x-3
answer: 2x^5: 5

need a full break down of why the answer is 2x^5:5

Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Your instructions are not very clear. In fact, I don't see any instructions.


However, I'm assuming that you want to find the leading term and the degree of the polynomial correct?



First, we need to sort the terms of 9x%5E2+%2B+2x%5E5%2B+8x-3 in descending exponential order. In other words, start with the term that has the largest exponent (which is 2x%5E5) and move onto 9x%5E2, 8x, etc


So the sorted polynomial is 2x%5E5%2B9x%5E2%2B8x-3



Since the leading term is the first term on the left, this means that the leading term is 2x%5E5.


Also, recall that the degree of a polynomial is simply the exponent of the leading term (ie it is the largest exponent).


Since the exponent of the leading term 2x%5E5 is 5, the degree is 5.