01 What is the degree of the equation 7x² − 4x + 9 = 0?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. 2
Explanation: Answer: B, 2. The degree of a polynomial equation is the greatest exponent of the variable whose coefficient is not zero. In 7x² − 4x + 9 = 0, the terms are 7x², −4x, and 9. Their powers of x are 2, 1, and 0 respectively. The coefficient of x² is 7, which is non-zero, so the highest actual power is 2. Therefore the equation has degree 2 and is called a quadratic equation. A, 1, describes only the linear term −4x and ignores the higher-power term. C, 3, is not present anywhere in the equation, so it cannot be the degree. D, 0, is the degree of a non-zero constant polynomial, not of this expression. The equals-zero sign does not change the degree; we inspect the polynomial on the left. Memory cue: degree means the largest exponent that remains after ignoring zero-coefficient terms.