Chapter 4.2, Problem 16OE

To determine

To State: The degree of the polynomial $2s^{2}t+3s{t}^2-s^2{t}^2$ and to say if it is a binomial or a trinomial.

Answer to Problem 16OE

The required degree of the trinomial $2s^{2}t+3s{t}^2-s^2{t}^2$ is 4.

Explanation of Solution

Given information:

The polynomial $2s^{2}t+3s{t}^2-s^2{t}^2$

Calculation:

The degree of a polynomial is the greatest of the degree of its terms after it has been simplified

  $2s^{2}t+3s{t}^2-s^2{t}^2$

The degree of the term $2s^{2}t$ is $2+1=3$ .

The degree of the term $3s{t}^2$ is $1+2=3$ .

The degree of the term $-s^2{t}^2$ is $2+2=4$ .

The greatest degree is 4,

Therefore the degree of the polynomial $2s^{2}t+3s{t}^2-s^2{t}^2$ is 4.

Since the polynomial has three terms, so it is a trinomial.