In Exercises 29–40, add the polynomials. Assume that all variable exponents represent whole numbers.(x²ⁿ + 5xⁿ − 8) + (4x²ⁿ − 7xⁿ + 2)
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Identify the like terms in the polynomials: terms with the same variable and exponent.
Group the like terms together: \((x^{2n} + 4x^{2n})\), \((5x^n - 7x^n)\), and \((-8 + 2)\).
Add the coefficients of the like terms for \(x^{2n}\): \(1 + 4\).
Add the coefficients of the like terms for \(x^n\): \(5 - 7\).
Add the constant terms: \(-8 + 2\).
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Polynomials
Polynomials are algebraic expressions that consist of variables raised to whole number exponents, combined using addition, subtraction, and multiplication. Each term in a polynomial is made up of a coefficient and a variable part, such as x² or 5x. Understanding the structure of polynomials is essential for performing operations like addition and subtraction.
Like terms are terms in a polynomial that have the same variable raised to the same exponent. For example, in the expression 5xⁿ and -7xⁿ, both terms are like terms because they share the same variable and exponent. Identifying and combining like terms is crucial when adding polynomials, as it simplifies the expression and allows for easier calculations.
Combining polynomials involves adding or subtracting their respective terms. This process requires aligning like terms and performing the arithmetic on their coefficients. For instance, when adding (x²ⁿ + 5xⁿ − 8) and (4x²ⁿ − 7xⁿ + 2), one must group x²ⁿ terms together and xⁿ terms together to arrive at a simplified polynomial expression.