Question 22883
<pre>Please Help me solve this equation: 
find the degree of:
-6x^3y+4xy^2-14xy+3 
Thanks !
<font size = 3><b>
-6x<sup>3</sup>y + 4xy<sup>2</sup> - 14xy + 3

Every term of a polynomial has a degree.  The whole polynomial also has a
degree.  The degree of the polynomial is the same degree as the degree of the
term which has the largest degree.

The degree of a term is the number of letters that are multiplied together
when you write it without exponents. That is, write the polynomial without
exponents:

-6xxxy + 4xyy - 14xy + 3

The first term -4xxxy has degree 4 because there are 4 letters multiplied
together.

The second term +4xyy has degree 3 because there are 3 letters multiplied
together.

The third term -14xy has degree 2 because there are 2 letters multiplied
together.

The fourth term +3 has degree 0 because there are NO letters multiplied
together.

The largest degree of all the terms is 4, so the whole polynomial has
degree 4.

Edwin
AnlytcPhil@aol.com</pre>