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.

Raj writes to polynomial expression in standard form using one variable, a, that has 4 terms and is degree 5
 Could for example be the following polynomial:
 Aa ^ 5 + Ba ^ 3 + Ca + D

 Nicole writes a polynomial expression in standard form using one variable, a, that has 3 terms and is degree 2

 The polynomial is:
 Ea ^ 2 + Fa + G

 Adding both polynomials we have:

 (Aa ^ 5 + Ba ^ 3 + Ca + D) + (Ea ^ 2 + Fa + G)
 Aa ^ 5 + Ba ^ 3 + Ea ^ 2 + (C + F) a + (D + G)

  
 The sum will be degree = 5 
 The maximum number of terms of the sum is 6, but it could be less. (5 in our example)