Degree of Polynomial

The degree is the value of the greatest exponent of any expression (except the constant) in
the polynomial. To find the degree all that you have to do is find the largest exponent in the
polynomial. Note: Ignore coefficients -- coefficients have nothing to do with the degree of a polynomial

Problem 1
What is the degree of the following polynomial x2 + x + 3?
Just use the 'formula' for finding the degree of a polynomial. ie--look for the value of the
largest exponent the answer is 2 since the first term is squared
Problem 2
Determine the degree of the polynomial 3x2 + x + 33?
Just use the 'formula' for finding the degree of a polynomial. ie--look for the value of the largest
exponent the answer is 2 since the first term is squared . Remember coefficients have nothing at all
do to with the degree.
Problem 3
What is the degree of the polynomial x3 + x2 + 4x + 11?
Just use the 'formula' for finding the degree of a polynomial. ie--look for the value of the largest
exponent the answer is 3 since the that is the largest exponent

Problem 4
What is the degree of the following polynomial5x3 + 2x +3?
Just use the 'formula' for finding the degree of a polynomial. ie--look for the value of the largest
exponent the answer is 3. Remember ignore those coefficients.
Problem 5
What is the degree of the following polynomial 11x9 + 10x5 + 11?
Just use the 'formula' for finding the degree of a polynomial. ie--look for the value of the largest
exponent the answer is 9. Remember ignore those coefficients.
Problem 6
What is the degree of the polynomial 7x3 + 2x8 +33?
The answer is 8. Be careful sometimes polynomials are not ordered from greatest exponent to least.
Even though 7x3 is the first expression, its exponent does not have the greatest value.
Problem 7
What is the degree of the following polynomial 5x8+ 2x9 + 3x11 +2x?
Just use the 'formula' for finding the degree of a polynomial. ie--look for the value of the largest
exponent the answer is 11. Remember ignore those coefficients.
Problem 8
What is the degree of the polynomial x2 + x + 23?
The answer is 2. Do NOT count any constants("constant" is just a fancy math word for 'number'). IE
you do not count the '23' which is just another way of writing 8.
 1 linear (or monic)

2 quadratic (a little confusing, since "quad" usually means

"4"; the 'quad comes from the fact that the area of a square
of side x is x^2, and a square has 4 sides)

3 cubic

4 quartic (in older algebra books, it is also called a

"bi-quadratic" polynomial)

5 quintic

6 this one might get you in trouble with the

principal/parents,
but the kids will like it: "sextic" (or, the less
troublesome
"hexic," which might get you in trouble around Hallowe'en)

7 my personal favorite: "septic" (as in system) or "heptic"

8 octic

9 nonic (almost sounds like it's a "non-equation")

10 decic (which sounds as if you have something stuck in your

throat)