Polynomial Degree

<p><span style="font-size:22px"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.prepswift.com/quizzes/quiz/prepswift-polynomial-degree">Polynomial Degree Exercise</a></span></p><p>The degree of a polynomial is the highest power of the variable in the polynomial. Think of it as the head honcho, the top dog, the main event.</p> <p>You can assign a degree to both a single term and an entire polynomial expression:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Degree of a Term:</strong>&nbsp;The sum of the exponents of the variables in that term: <ul> <li>Example: $6x^2y^3$ has a degree of $2 + 3 = 5$.</li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Degree of a Polynomial (Expression):</strong>&nbsp;The highest degree of any term in the polynomial: <ul> <li>Example: $5x^4 + 2x^2y - 7xy^2 + 4$ has a degree of $4$ because the first term has a degree of $4$, while the remaining terms have degrees of $3$, $3$, and $0$.</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p>Some other notes:</p> <p>- A constant has a degree of $0$ - For example, you can re-write $8$ as $8x^0$ (remember that variables raised to the power of $0$ would be $1$)<br /> - You sum up the exponents, even if they come from different variables - In the case of $x^2y^2 + x^3$ , the degree is actually $4$, not $3$.</p> <p>So, keep an eye on those exponents&mdash;they&rsquo;re the ones running the show!</p>