Q1 of 44 Page 50

If p(x) = 5x7 – 6x5 + 7x - 6, find

(i) coefficient of x5


(ii) degree of p(x)


(iii) constant term.

(i) A coefficient is a multiplicative factor in some term of a polynomial. It is the constant (-6 here) written before the variable (x5 here).

∴ The coefficient of x5 is -6.


(ii) Degree of p(x) is the highest power of x in p(x).


∴ The degree of p(x) is 7.


(iii) The term that is not attached to a variable (i.e., x) is -6.


∴ The constant term is -6.


More from this chapter

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2

State which of the following statements are true and which are false? Give reasons for your choice.

(i) The degree of the polynomial is


(ii) The coefficient of x2 in the polynomial p(x) = 3x3 – 4x2 + 5x + 7 is 2.


(iii) The degree of a constant term is zero.


(iv) is a quadratic polynomial.


(v) The degree of a polynomial is one more than the number of terms in it.

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