Final answer:
The missing exponent on the x-term must be 2.
Step-by-step explanation:
The trinomial 5x2y³ + xy² + 8 has a degree of 5, which means that the term with the highest exponent must have a degree of 5. Since the highest exponent in the given expression is 3, the missing exponent on the x-term must be 2 in order to make the trinomial have a degree of 5.
Learn more about exponents in polynomials