3x²y - y
The degree of a polynomial is the degree of its highest degree term.
The degree of a term is the sum of the exponents of that term's variables.
The term 3x²y has two variables: x has an exponent of 2 and y has an exponent of 1; adding these together, the sum is 3; therefore, the degree of 3x²y is 3. Another way of looking at this: if you write the term completely out, the term would be 3xxy; counting the number of variables (letters), there are three.
The degree of y is 1.
The highest degree is three; therefore, the degree of the polynomial is 3.
3x²y - y
The degree of a polynomial is the degree of its highest degree term.
The degree of a term is the sum of the exponents of that term's variables.
The term 3x²y has two variables: x has an exponent of 2 and y has an exponent of 1; adding these together, the sum is 3; therefore, the degree of 3x²y is 3. Another way of looking at this: if you write the term completely out, the term would be 3xxy; counting the number of variables (letters), there are three.
The degree of y is 1.
The highest degree is three; therefore, the degree of the polynomial is 3.