Complete question is;
raj writes a polynomial expression in standard form using one variable, a, that has 4 terms and is degree 5. Nicole writes a polynomial expression in standard form using one variable, a, that has 3 terms and is degree 2. Raj and Nicole’s polynomial expressions are added to create a sum, written in standard form. What can you determine about the degree of the sum? The sum will be degree . What can you determine about the number of terms of the sum? The maximum number of terms of the sum is , but it could be less.
Answer:
Degree: 5
Maximum number of terms: 6 or could less
Explanation:
We are told that Raj writes a polynomial expression in standard form using one variable, a, that has 4 terms and is degree 5. So let this polynomial be: Aa^(5) + Ba³ + Ca + D
Also, we're told that: Nicole writes a polynomial expression in standard form using one variable, a, that has 3 terms and is degree 2.
The polynomial is: Ea² + Fa + G
If we add both polynomials we, we will get;
Aa^(5) + Ba³ + Ca + D + Ea² + Fa + G
Rearranging terms to give;
Aa^(5) + Ba³ + Ea² + Ca + Fa + D + G
Collecting like terms to give;
Aa^(5) + Ba³ + Ea² + a(C + F) + (D + G)
So this is now a 5 degree polynomial.
So the new sum will have a degree of 5.
Also, as seen in the above steps, the maximum number of terms could be 6 or less.