If I have to "evaluate" the equation and the remaining answer is x^(4) + 2x^(2) + x

(this was just an example)

to evaluate would I factor it if I could (for any problem)?

1 answer

Evaluate usually means substituting variables by known values.

In the above example, one would
"x^(4) + 2x^(2) + x when x=2"

The answer would then be
2^4+2x^2+2
=16+8+2
=26