Degree (mathematics)

The degree of a polynomial formula_1 is the highest exponent that occurs inside that polynomial. It is represented by the symbol formula_2. 
For example, if we look at the polynomial formula_3, then we can see that the degree of this polynomial is formula_4, because the highest power in the variable formula_5 is formula_4. It occurs in the term formula_7.
The name of the variable is not important. For example, the polynomial formula_8 has degree formula_9, because the highest power of the variable, in this case formula_10, is formula_9, which occurs in the term formula_12.