### A good answer might be:

Floating point constants

# Evaluation

Here is the part of the code that evaluates the polynomial. Remember that `x` is in `$f0`.

            # Register Use Chart
            # $f0 --- x
            # $f2 --- sum of terms
            . . . . .

            # evaluate the quadratic
            l.s     $f2,a               # sum = a
            mul.s   $f2,$f2,$f0         # sum = ax

            l.s     $f4,bb              # get b
            add.s   $f2,$f2,$f4         # sum = ax + b
            mul.s   $f2,$f2,$f0         # sum = (ax+b)x = ax^2 + bx

            l.s     $f4,c               # get c
            add.s   $f2,$f2,$f4         # sum = ax^2 + bx + c
            . . . . . .

            .data
    a:      .float  1.0
    bb:     .float  1.0
    c:      .float  1.0

The assembler objects to the symbolic address "b" (because there is a mnemonic "b", for branch) so use "bb" instead.

The polynomial is evaluated from left to right. First `ax + b` is calculated. Then that is multiplied by `x` and `c` is added in, giving `axx + bx + c`.

The value `x2` is not explicitly calculated. This way of calculating a polynomial is called Horner's Method. It is useful to have in your bag of tricks.

### QUESTION 17:

Why (do you suppose) are the constants `a`, `b`, and `c` set to `1.0`?