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DEGREE OF A POLYNOMIAL

Degree Of A Polynomial

Definition Of Degree Of A Polynomial

Degree of a polynomial is the highest of the degrees of all its terms.

More About Degree of a Polynomial

This highest degree of the polynomial is also called as the order of the polynomial.

Example of Degree of a Polynomial

The degree of the polynomial 5 - 9x + 4x3 - 8x7 is 7.
The degree of the polynomial 5x6 + x4 - 2x3 + 9 is 6.

Video Examples: The Degree of a Polynomial
 

Solved Example on Degree of a Polynomial

Ques: The degree of the polynomial y4 + 7y + 1 is ______.

Choices:

A. 4
B. 2
C. 5
D. 3
Correct Answer: A

Solution:

Step 1: y4 + 7y + 1 [Original Polynomial.]
Step 2: In the expression, the exponents of y are 4, 1.
Step 3: The highest exponent of y is the degree of the polynomial.
Step 4: So, the degree of the polynomial is 4.

Quick Summary

  • The degree is the highest exponent of the variable in the polynomial.
  • The degree is also referred to as the order of the polynomial.
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🍎 Teacher Insights

Emphasize the importance of correctly identifying the exponents and ensuring that the polynomial is simplified before determining the degree. Use examples with missing terms to check for understanding.

🎓 Prerequisites

  • Exponents
  • Variables
  • Terms
  • Polynomials

Check Your Knowledge

Q1: What is the degree of the polynomial 3x² + 5x - 7?

Q2: What is the degree of the polynomial 8x⁵ - 2x³ + x - 4?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the degree of a constant term?
A: The degree of a constant term is 0, as it can be considered as a coefficient multiplied by a variable raised to the power of 0 (e.g., 5 = 5x⁰).

Q: How do you find the degree of a polynomial with multiple variables?
A: The degree of a term with multiple variables is the sum of the exponents of the variables in that term. The degree of the polynomial is the highest of these sums.

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