How do you find the degree of #-4#?

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Answer 1 · 2017-11-01T23:45:30

#0#

A polynomial is a sum of terms in some variable, or variables with non-negative integer degrees.

The degree of the polynomial is the highest degree of each of the constituent terms.

In our example:

#-4 = -4x^0#

has degree #0#

So the polynomial #-4# has degree #0#.

Warning

You might think that the zero polynomial #0# also has degree #0#, but note that it is the sum of no terms with non-zero coefficients.

It is probably best said to have undefined degree, but if one is assigned, then it is conventionally the value #-1# or the value #-oo#.