document.write( "Question 88430: Hi, I'm trying to understand the topic of Degree of polynomials but I don't
\n" ); document.write( "quite get it, and I'm stuck in this problem, how can I determine the degree of
\n" ); document.write( "this polynomial? \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "8x³ + 6x²y + 4xy³ - 2y⁴ \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #64272 by stanbon(75887) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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For polynomials in two or more variables, the degree of a term is the sum of the exponents of the variables in the term; the degree of the polynomial is again the maximum of the degrees of all terms in the polynomial. For example, the polynomial x^2y^2 + 3x^3 + 4y has degree 4, the same degree as the term x^2y^2.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "However, a polynomial in variables x and y, is a polynomial in x with coefficients which are polynomials in y, and also a polynomial in y with coefficients which are polynomials in x.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x^2y^2 + 3x^3 + 4y = (3)x^3 + (y^2)x^2 + (4y) = (x^2)y^2 + (4)y + (3x^3)
\n" ); document.write( "This polynomial has degree 3 in x and degree 2 in y.
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\n" ); document.write( "Your Problem:
\n" ); document.write( "8x^3 + 6x^2y + 4xy^3 - 2y^4 has degree 4
\n" ); document.write( "As a polynomial in y it has degree 4
\n" ); document.write( "As a polynomial in x it has degree 3
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\n" ); document.write( "Cheers,
\n" ); document.write( "Stan H.\r
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