Question 169841
The degree of a polynomial is equal to the degree of the highest degree term in the polynomial.  The degree of a term is the sum of all exponents on variables in that term.  A variable with no exponent is assumed to be raised to the 1 power, that is to say:  {{{x=x^1}}}


So:


{{{x+1=x^1+1}}}.  The highest degree term is the {{{x^1}}} term, so the polynomial is of degree 1.


{{{x+y-4}}}.  Again, each of the terms containing a variable is of degree 1, so the polynomial is of degree 1.


{{{x^2+2x-9}}}.  The highest degree term is the {{{x^2}}} term which is of degree 2, hence the polynomial is of degree 2.


{{{x^2y^3+x+y-4}}}.  Here the first term has two variables.  The exponent on the x is 2 and the exponent on the y is 3, so the degree of the term is 2 + 3 or 5; the polynomial is of degree 5.


{{{xy-9}}}.  Here the term containing the variables again has two variables.  The exponent on x is 1 and the exponent on y is also 1, therefore the degree of the term is 1 + 1 or 2.