High School

Which of the following shows the polynomial below written in descending order?

[tex]3x^3 + 9x^7 - x + 4x^{12}[/tex]

A. [tex]4x^{12} + 9x^7 + 3x^3 - x[/tex]
B. [tex]3x^3 + 4x^{12} + 9x^7 - x[/tex]
C. [tex]9x^7 + 4x^{12} + 3x^3 - x[/tex]
D. [tex]4x^{12} + 3x^3 - x + 9x^7[/tex]

Answer :

To write the polynomial [tex]\(3x^3 + 9x^7 - x + 4x^{12}\)[/tex] in descending order, we need to arrange its terms from the highest degree to the lowest degree.

Here is the step-by-step process:

1. Identify the degree of each term:
- The term [tex]\(4x^{12}\)[/tex] has a degree of 12.
- The term [tex]\(9x^7\)[/tex] has a degree of 7.
- The term [tex]\(3x^3\)[/tex] has a degree of 3.
- The term [tex]\(-x\)[/tex] is equivalent to [tex]\(-1x^1\)[/tex], which has a degree of 1.

2. Arrange the terms by their degrees in descending order:
- Start with the term having the highest degree: [tex]\(4x^{12}\)[/tex].
- Follow with the next highest degree: [tex]\(9x^7\)[/tex].
- Then, the next: [tex]\(3x^3\)[/tex].
- Lastly, add the term with the lowest degree: [tex]\(-x\)[/tex].

3. Write the polynomial in descending order:
- The polynomial becomes: [tex]\(4x^{12} + 9x^7 + 3x^3 - x\)[/tex].

Therefore, the polynomial in descending order is [tex]\(4x^{12} + 9x^7 + 3x^3 - x\)[/tex], which matches option A: [tex]\(4x^{12} + 9x^7 + 3x^3 - x\)[/tex].