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Section 1.4 : Polynomials

6. Perform the indicated operation and identify the degree of the result.

\[\left( {{w^2} + 2} \right)\left( {3{w^2} + w} \right)\]

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All we need to do is foil out the two polynomials. Here is the result of doing that.

\[\left( {{w^2} + 2} \right)\left( {3{w^2} + w} \right) = \require{bbox} \bbox[2pt,border:1px solid black]{{3{w^4} + {w^3} + 6{w^2} + 2w}}\] Show Step 2

Remember the degree of a polynomial is just the largest exponent in the polynomial and so the degree of the result of this operation is four.