SOLUTION: What is the degree of the polynomial: x^12 - 5x^4 Can anyone help me with the method I am to use please? Thank you so very much!

Question 70370: What is the degree of the polynomial:
x^12 - 5x^4
Can anyone help me with the method I am to use please? Thank you so very much!
Answer by funmath(2933) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
What is the degree of the polynomial:
x^12 - 5x^4
This polynomial has two terms, x^12 and -5x^4.
The degree of the polynomial is equal to the highest degree (powers) of the terms.
In this case x^12 is the term with the highest power, 12. So the degree of this polynomial is 12.
:
You have to be careful though if there is more than one variable in the term, then you add the powers of the variables together to find the degree of that term.
Example:
x^4y^2+5xy
has a degree of 6 because the term x^4y^2 has the highest degree (4+2)=6
I hope that clarifies things.
Happy Calculating!!!!
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