Rewrite 4-5x-x^2+6x^3 in descending powers of x.

Key Concepts

Polynomial Terms

A polynomial is an expression consisting of variables raised to non-negative integer powers and coefficients. Each term in a polynomial is typically in the form of ax^n, where 'a' is a coefficient, 'x' is the variable, and 'n' is a non-negative integer. Understanding how to identify and manipulate these terms is essential for rewriting polynomials.

Descending Order

Descending order in polynomials refers to arranging the terms from the highest degree to the lowest degree. The degree of a term is determined by the exponent of the variable. For example, in the polynomial 6x^3 + 4x^2 - x + 5, the term with the highest exponent (3) comes first, followed by the next highest (2), and so on.

Combining Like Terms

Combining like terms involves simplifying a polynomial by adding or subtracting terms that have the same variable raised to the same power. This process is crucial for rewriting polynomials in a more compact form. For instance, in the expression 4x^2 - x^2, both terms are like terms and can be combined to yield 3x^2.