What is the highest power in the expression 2x^3 - 5x + 1?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: 3
The governing concept is the degree of a polynomial. The degree is the greatest exponent of the variable that has a non-zero coefficient. In 2x^3 - 5x + 1, the terms are 2x^3, -5x, and 1. Their powers of x are 3, 1, and 0 respectively, because a constant term is treated as having exponent zero. The greatest exponent is therefore 3, so option C is correct. The number 2 is the coefficient of x^3, not its exponent. Similarly, 5 is the numerical coefficient of -5x, while 1 is the constant term. Thus none of those numbers represents the highest power. The sign of a coefficient does not affect degree; only the largest surviving exponent matters.
Frequently asked questions
What is the correct answer to this question?
3
Why is this the correct answer?
The governing concept is the degree of a polynomial. The degree is the greatest exponent of the variable that has a non-zero coefficient. In 2x^3 - 5x + 1, the terms are 2x^3, -5x, and 1. Their powers of x are 3, 1, and 0 respectively, because a constant term is treated as having exponent zero. The greatest exponent is therefore 3, so option C is correct. The number 2 is the coefficient of x^3, not its exponent. Similarly, 5 is the numerical coefficient of -5x, while 1 is the constant term. Thus none of those numbers represents the highest power. The sign of a coefficient does not affect degree; only the largest surviving exponent matters.
Which subject and chapter does this question cover?
This is a Class 9 Mathematics question. Chapter: Introduction to Polynomials. Topic: Degree of a Polynomial.
Student feedback
Was this question useful?
👍 0 Helpful 👎 0 Not helpful
Yes 0% No 0%
0 responsesStudent Reviews
No published reviews yet.
