<PRE><B>Question 88430</B>
Hi, I&#39;m trying to understand the topic of Degree of polynomials but Idon&#39;t
quite get it, and I&#39;m stuck in this problem, how can I determine the degree of
this polynomial? 
&lt;pre&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;font size = 4&gt;
8x&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt; + 6x&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;y + 4xy&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt; - 2y&lt;sup&gt;4&lt;/sup&gt; 

The degree of a polynomial is the most number of variables
that are multiplied together in any term of the polynomial

So let&#39;s write the eponentials as multiplications of variables:

8x&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt; + 6x&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;y + 4xy&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt; - 2y&lt;sup&gt;4&lt;/sup&gt; becomes

8xxx + 6xxy + 4xyyy - 2yyyy

The longest strings of multiplied letters are xyyy and yyyy.
Both are strings of 4 multiplied letters, so the degree of the 
polynomial is 4.

Edwin </PRE>