In your own words, explain how to find the degree of a polynomial.

Question

skullpatrol · Answer

Any ideas?

jdoe0001 · Answer

anonymous · Answer

I have to explain in words how to do it. Not quite sure how.

skullpatrol · Answer

Since you need to put this into your OWN words do you understand the definition?

anonymous · Answer

Basically it's the highest exponent of a variable?

skullpatrol · Answer

Let's start with the degree of a monomial...

skullpatrol · Answer

What is a "monomial"?

anonymous · Answer

an algebraic expression consisting of one term.

skullpatrol · Answer

monomial: An expression that is either a numeral, a variable, or the product of a numeral and one or more variables.

skullpatrol · Answer

degree of a variable in a monomial: The number of times that the variable occurs as a factor in the monomial.

skullpatrol · Answer

degree of a monomial: The sum of the degrees of the variables in the monomial.

skullpatrol · Answer

degree of a polynomial: The greatest of the degrees of its terms after it has been simplified.

skullpatrol · Answer

Where a polynomial is defined as a sum of monomials.