Degree of a Polynomial
The degree of a term of a polynomial is the sum of the exponents of the
variables in that term.
For example, consider this trinomial:
|
|
6x3y2 + xy2 + 35x4. |
The degree of the first term is 5.
|
degree |
6x3y2 = 3 + 2 = 5 |
The degree of the second term is 3.
|
degree |
xy2 = x1y2 = 1 + 2 = 3 |
The degree of the last term is 4.
In 35, the exponent does not contribute
to the degree because the base, 3, is not
a variable.
|
degree |
35x4 = 4 |
The degree of a polynomial is equal to
the degree of the term with the highest degree.
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|
|
In this polynomial, the term with
the highest degree has degree 5.
So this polynomial has degree 5. |
The polynomial has degree 5. |
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