Question

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

Answer 1

Any ideas?

Answer 2

http://www.virtualnerd.com/images/Tutorial/Alg1_7_2_3-diagram_thumb-lg.png

Answer 3

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

Answer 4

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

Answer 5

Basically it's the highest exponent of a variable?

Answer 6

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

Answer 7

What is a "monomial"?

Answer 8

an algebraic expression consisting of one term.

Answer 9

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

Answer 10

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

Answer 11

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

Answer 12

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

Answer 13

Where a polynomial is defined as a sum of monomials.