Question 356779
No, not necessarily.
The degree of the polynomial is the largest exponent of x.
So in this polynomial,
{{{g(x)=5x^7+2x+1}}}
The first term of {{{g(x)}}} is {{{5x^7}}} and the degree is {{{7}}}. 
However, 
{{{f(x)=1+2x+3x^3+x^5}}}
The first term of {{{f(x)}}} is {{{1}}}, however the degree is {{{5}}}.