Question

What is the leading term, leading coefficient, and degree of this polynomial `f(x) = 3x^5 + 6x^4 – x – 3`?

Answer 1

`color(green)("Leading Term is ") color(blue)( 3x^5`

`color(green)("Leading degree " = 5,) color(blue)(" exponent of " 3x^5`

`color(green)("Leading coefficient " = 3,) color(blue)( " coefficient of " 3x^5`

Explanation:

`f(x) = 3x^5 + 6x^4 - x - 3`

1. Identify the term containing the highest power of x. to find the leading term.

`color(green)("Leading Term is ") color(blue)( 3x^5`

1. Find the highest power of x. to determine the degree function

`color(green)("Leading degree " = 5,) color(blue)(" exponent of " 3x^5`
.
3. Identify the coefficient of the leading term.

`color(green)("Leading coefficient " = 3,) color(blue)( " coefficient of " 3x^5`