Am I correct when a degree of a whole number like (7) 0? But when you're using it in an exponent property for example, 7x7^5. Why would the answer be 7^6? as in the first 7 is 7^1. Is the degree of a number and an exponent two different things? I feel like this is too confusing...... :P

Question

anonymous · Answer

of course it is confusing because it means two different things. the degree of a polynomial is the highest power of a variable, not a number

anonymous · Answer

so \{x^2+3x+64\) has degree 2, whereas 64 has degree zero (since it is $64x^0$ ) and not for example degree 6 because $64=2^6$ 
or degree 3 because $64=4^3$ 
or degree 2 because $64=8^2$ 
or degree 1 because $64=64^1$

anonymous · Answer

first line should read $x^2+3x+64$ has degree 2

anonymous · Answer

Oh alright, that makes sense. Degrees pertain to how many variables? as in x^2 is the highest in that polynomial because it's two x's. and 64 is zero because it has no x's right?