The expression \(3x + 5y^2 - 3\) is a polynomial. Specifically, it is a polynomial in two variables, \(x\) and \(y\).
To be more specific:
- The term \(3x\) is a linear term in \(x\).
- The term \(5y^2\) is a quadratic term in \(y\).
- The term \(-3\) is a constant.
The degree of the polynomial is determined by the highest degree of its terms. Here, the degree of \(5y^2\) is 2 (since the exponent of \(y\) is 2) and the degree of \(3x\) is 1, making the overall degree of the polynomial 2.
So, the expression \(3x + 5y^2 - 3\) can be correctly described as a degree 2 polynomial in two variables.