The polynomial P(x) is defined by P(x) = (2x^2 - 3x + 5)^2 - 4x(x^3 - 2x^2 - 7x + 1). When… — ACT

The polynomial $P(x)$ is defined by $P(x) = (2x^2 - 3x + 5)^2 - 4x(x^3 - 2x^2 - 7x + 1)$ . When $P(x)$ is written in standard form, what is the coefficient of the $x^2$ term?

Answer: 57

Answer

The coefficient of the

x^2

term is 57.

Expanding

(2x^2 - 3x + 5)^2

yields

(2x^2 - 3x + 5)(2x^2 - 3x + 5) = 4x^4 - 12x^3 + 29x^2 - 30x + 25

. Distributing the

-4x

term yields

-4x(x^3 - 2x^2 - 7x + 1) = -4x^4 + 8x^3 + 28x^2 - 4x

. Combining the

x^2

terms from both expressions gives

29x^2 + 28x^2 = 57x^2

. Thus, the coefficient of the

x^2

term is 57.

Step-by-Step Solution

Expand the squared trinomial

(2x^2 - 3x + 5)^2

4x^4 - 12x^3 + 29x^2 - 30x + 25

Expanding the first part of the expression by multiplying the trinomial by itself.

Distribute the term

-4x

to the trinomial

(x^3 - 2x^2 - 7x + 1)

-4x^4 + 8x^3 + 28x^2 - 4x

Expanding the second part of the polynomial expression while distributing the negative sign to all terms.

Combine the expanded expressions and isolate the

x^2

terms

29x^2 + 28x^2 = 57x^2

Adding the coefficients of the terms of degree 2 to find the combined coefficient.

Key Concept

Operations on Polynomials

Question

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