How do you find the degree of #m^3 n^3 + 6mn^2 - 14m^3n#?

1 Answer
Jul 14, 2015

The polynomial is of degree 6.

Explanation:

To find the degree of a multivariable term, you ignore the coefficient and add the exponents of all the variables in that term.

The degree of the polynomial is that of the term with the largest degree.

Your polynomial is

#m^3n^3 + 6mn^2 - 14 m^3n#

The variables are #m# and #n#.

First term: #m^3n^3#; #"degree" = 3+3 = 6#

Second term: #6mn^2#; #"degree" = 1+2 = 3#

Third term: #-14m^3n#; #"degree" = 3 + 1 = 4#

The first term has the highest degree, so this is a sixth degree polynomial.