Which of the following polynomials has a degree of 3?
A. x3y3 - 3xy
B. x + y + z
C. x2y + 5y2
D. x2y2 - y3

Question

Which of the following polynomials has a degree of 3?
	A.	x3y3 - 3xy
	B.	x + y + z
	C.	x2y + 5y2
	D.	x2y2 - y3

hero · Answer

@tm-cool, which do you believe is correct?

anonymous · Answer

i think a

hero · Answer

No, the exponents of the first term have to add to 3 in order for the degree of polynomial to be three. 

For a you have an exponent of 3 for x and an exponent of 3 for y. 3 + 3 = 6 so, a can't be it.

anonymous · Answer

so the its d

shamil98 · Answer

Would it not be B?
x + y + z

hero · Answer

No, it's not d because 2 + 2 = 4

hero · Answer

@tm-cool, you should have gotten it on the second try. I gave you enough of a hint.

anonymous · Answer

i got it i didnt your answer right

hero · Answer

I haven't mentioned what the answer is. Which answer choice do you believe is correct?

anonymous · Answer

b

hero · Answer

It's not b either. And by process of elimination you know that c is the answer. But guessing is not the way.

anonymous · Answer

ok none of them equaled three c 2+2=4

hero · Answer

Ugh, this problem isn't what I thought it was...

d is correct. I didn't see the cube term

hero · Answer

c would be correct if d didn't have the cubed second term.

hero · Answer

Sorry for mis-leading you

anonymous · Answer

ok

hero · Answer

Here's the proof that c also has degree of 3: http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=degree+of+x2y+%2B+5y2

hero · Answer

So those answer choices are misleading. c and d both have degree of 3

hero · Answer

By the way, any time I say "first term" in reference to polynomials, I mean to say "leading term".

hero · Answer

Here's more info about it on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degree_of_a_polynomial

hero · Answer

Also if you're not going to use $\LaTeX$ to post your questions, you should use the caret symbol to emphasize the exponents. x3y3 is not a proper notation for $x^3y^3$. However x^3y^3 is a proper notation.