Question 370058
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9x<sup>4</sup> + x<sup>2</sup> + x<sup>7</sup> - 12

list the degree of each term; 

9x<sup>4</sup> is the first term.  Its degree is 4 because that's its exponent of the
variable x.

x<sup>2</sup> is the second term.  Its degree is 2 because that's its exponent of the
variable x.

x<sup>7</sup> is the third term. Its degree is 7 because that's its exponent of the
variable x.

-12 is the fourth term. Its degree is 0 because, since x<sup>0</sup> = 1 and -12
therefore equals to -12x<sup>0</sup>, -12 has an understoon exponent of the variable x.

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(b) determine the leading term and the leading coefficient;

The leading term is the one which has the largest exponent of the variable x.
This is the third term x<sup>7</sup>.  The leading coefficient is the coefficient of the
leading term.  Therefore the leading coefficient is the understood 1
coefficient of the leading term x<sup>7</sup>.

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(c) determine the degree of the polynomial.

The degree of a polynomial is the same as the degree of its leading term.
Therefore the degree of the entire polynomial is the same as the degree of
the leading term x<sup>7</sup>, which is 7.

Edwin</pre>