State the degree:
5r^2s^3t^4

does that mean the first exponent (2) or the highest exponent (4)?

Question

State the degree:
5r^2s^3t^4

does that mean the first exponent (2) or the highest exponent (4)?

anonymous · Answer

It means the highest exponent.

shane_b · Answer

4th degree...since that's the highest exponent.

anonymous · Answer

Ok thanks :)

ganeshie8 · Answer

2+3+4

ganeshie8 · Answer

here r, s ,t are variables.
you should take the sum of their powers. since its a a product

ganeshie8 · Answer

xy : degree = 2
x+y : degree = 1

x^2y + y : degree = 3


hope you get the idea

shane_b · Answer

@ganeshie8: Good catch...I didn't think of it being a product.

shane_b · Answer

For your first question, the degree of a polynomial expression is the degree of the term with the highest degree.  For example, the degree of a term like x^2 is just 2.  However, if the term is like x^2y, then that term has a degree of 3 because x^2y^1->2+1=3.

Does that make more sense?

anonymous · Answer

oh I see yeah it makes sense! thank you! :)

shane_b · Answer

Cool :)