SOLUTION: how to find the degree of a polynomial

Question 134618: how to find the degree of a polynomial
Answer by vleith(2983) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
TIf the polynomial is of a single variable, then the degree of a polynomial is defined as the highest order exponent contained in the polynomial.
So, if you write the polynomial "in the normal way" the highest order power is written as the first term.

If the polynomial contains more than one variable, then the degree is defined as the sum of the exponents with the largest number.
For instance:
4x^3 + 2x^2 + x - 5 -- highest exponent is 3, so the degree is 3
4x^3y^2 + 3x^2y + 3 -- highest is 3+2 = 2
Be careful with polynomials with more than one variable. Sometimes they order them so that the highest degree term may wel not be the 'leftmost one'

RELATED QUESTIONS
How do you find the degree of a... (answered by Edwin McCravy)

how is the range of a polynomial related to the degree of the... (answered by greenestamps)

What's the easiest way to find the degree of a polynomial? For instance, what's the... (answered by mananth)

SUPPOSE YOU ADD A POLYNOMIAL OF DEGREE m TO A POLYNOMIAL OF DEGREE n WHERE m>n. THEN THE (answered by venugopalramana)

Find a polynomial function f with real coefficients of the indicated degree degree 2; 2 (answered by dfrazzetto)

find a polynomial of the specified degree: degree 4, zeros:-5,0,5,7... (answered by Edwin McCravy)

Determine whether the expresssion is a polynomial, if it is state how many terms and... (answered by stanbon)

Suppose you are given a polynomial of degree greater than 1 and want to know whether... (answered by jsmallt9)

how do i find the degree of a polynomial. i dont understand. i need details please.... (answered by uma)