Identify the leading coefficient for the following expression:  − 5a2 - 2a  +15

1. Break Down the Problem

We need to identify the leading coefficient of the polynomial expression given: $-5a^2 - 2a + 15$

2. Relevant Concepts

In a polynomial, the leading coefficient is the coefficient of the term with the highest degree.

3. Analysis and Detail

• The expression $-5a^2 - 2a + 15$ has three terms:

  1. $-5a^2$ (degree 2)
  2. $-2a$ (degree 1)
  3. $15$ (degree 0)

• The term with the highest degree is $-5a^2$, which has a degree of 2.

4. Verify and Summarize

The leading coefficient is the coefficient of the term with the highest degree, which is $-5$.

Final Answer

The leading coefficient is $-5$.