Raj and Nicole's polynomial expressions are added to create a sum, written in standard form. What can you determine about the degree of the sum? The sum will be degree. What can you determine about the number of terms of the sum? The maximum number of terms of the sum is, but it could be less.

Complete question is;

raj writes a polynomial expression in standard form using one variable, a, that has 4 terms and is degree 5. Nicole writes a polynomial expression in standard form using one variable, a, that has 3 terms and is degree 2. Raj and Nicole's polynomial expressions are added to create a sum, written in standard form. What can you determine about the degree of the sum? The sum will be degree. What can you determine about the number of terms of the sum? The maximum number of terms of the sum is, but it could be less.

Answer:

Degree: 5

Maximum number of terms: 6 or could less

Step-by-step explanation:

We are told that Raj writes a polynomial expression in standard form using one variable, a, that has 4 terms and is degree 5. So let this polynomial be: Aa^ (5) + Ba³ + Ca + D

Also, we're told that: Nicole writes a polynomial expression in standard form using one variable, a, that has 3 terms and is degree 2.

The polynomial is: Ea² + Fa + G

If we add both polynomials we, we will get;

Aa^ (5) + Ba³ + Ca + D + Ea² + Fa + G

Rearranging terms to give;

Aa^ (5) + Ba³ + Ea² + Ca + Fa + D + G

Collecting like terms to give;

Aa^ (5) + Ba³ + Ea² + a (C + F) + (D + G)

So this is now a 5 degree polynomial.

So the new sum will have a degree of 5.

Also, as seen in the above steps, the maximum number of terms could be 6 or less.