What is the degree of the polynomial x² - 7x - 18?

What is the degree of the polynomial x² - 7x - 18?

• A. 1
• B. 2
• C. 3
• D. 0

Answer: (B)

The degree of a polynomial is determined by the highest exponent of the variable in the expression. In the polynomial given, \(x^2 - 7x - 18\), the term with the highest exponent is \(x^2\), where the exponent is 2. This means that the degree of the polynomial is 2, indicating that it is a quadratic polynomial. Quadratic polynomials generally have a degree of two, as they can be expressed in the standard form \(ax^2 + bx + c\). Hence, the correct answer is indeed 2.

The degree of a polynomial is determined by the highest exponent of the variable in the expression. In the polynomial given, (x^2 - 7x - 18), the term with the highest exponent is (x^2), where the exponent is 2. This means that the degree of the polynomial is 2, indicating that it is a quadratic polynomial. Quadratic polynomials generally have a degree of two, as they can be expressed in the standard form (ax^2 + bx + c). Hence, the correct answer is indeed 2.