how can you tell what degree a polynomial is?

Question

anonymous · Answer

@amistre64

amistre64 · Answer

depends on the poly but it a simple process

anonymous · Answer

Well I have 5x + 3x^4 - 7x^3 + 10

amistre64 · Answer

each term has a number of variables attached to it

the term this the most number of variables defines the degree

amistre64 · Answer

the degree is the total number of variables in the term

anonymous · Answer

oh so the Polynomial I gave above is third degree?

amistre64 · Answer

no,  4 is more than 3

amistre64 · Answer

3 xxxx  is the term with the most variables in it

there are 4 variables, so its a degree 4

anonymous · Answer

What does that mean? Sorry I am trying to get a head start for my next lesson so I haven't learned too much about this

amistre64 · Answer

5x + 3x^4 - 7x^3 + 10 

5x + 3xxxx - 7xxx + 10 
        ^^^^^
           term if highest degree defines the degree of the polynomial

the degree is the number of variables in the term ... 4 xs

anonymous · Answer

Oh so it's 4 because it has the greatest value of the exponents

amistre64 · Answer

dot confuse yourself with 'greatest exponent'  its not that simple

amistre64 · Answer

$$3x^4 + 3x^2y^2z$$
whats the degree of the poly?

anonymous · Answer

4th degree, right

amistre64 · Answer

no, whats the rule i just stated?

amistre64 · Answer

if you want to go with 'greatest exponent' then you ahve to let all variables be the same variable

$$3x^4 + 3x^2y^2z\color{red}{\implies}3n^4+3n^2n^2n\color{red}{\implies}3n^4+3n^{2+2+1}$$

anonymous · Answer

So it would be the 6th degree?

amistre64 · Answer

no, 2+2+1 is not 6  and its bigger than 4

anonymous · Answer

I misread as 3 sorry, lol

anonymous · Answer

So 5

anonymous · Answer

th

amistre64 · Answer

ok, so how are we going to define the degree of a poly?  tell me your approach