Question

Find the value of the polynomial:
6a^3–a^10+4a^3+a^10–8a^3+a for a=−3

Answer 1

-57

Explanation:

We can collect terms to simplify the arithmetic.

... = a^3(6 +4 -8) +a^10(-1 +1) +a

... = 2a^3 +a

... = a(2a^2 +1)

For a = -3, this is

... -3(2(-3)² +1) = -3(2·9 +1)

... = -3·19 = -57