Question

What is the degree of the polynomial f, left bracket, x, right bracket f(x) defined below?

f(x) = −x² − 6
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4

Answer 1

The degree of the polynomial f(x) = −x² − 6 is 2, as it is determined by the highest power of x in the expression, which in this case is x².

Step-by-step explanation:

The degree of the polynomial f(x) = −x² − 6 is determined by the highest power of the variable x that appears in the expression. In this case, the highest power of x is 2 since the term with x is x². Therefore, the degree of this polynomial is 2.

When considering other expressions that involve quadratic equations, such as x² + 1.2 x 10-2x - 6.0 × 10-3 = 0 or any expression of the form at² + bt + c = 0, they can be solved using the quadratic formula, which allows for determining the roots of the equation. This fundamental formula is crucial when dealing with polynomials of degree 2.

Therefore, the correct answer to the question regarding the degree of the polynomial f(x) = −x² − 6 is option b. 2.