What is the leading term, leading coefficient, and degree of this polynomial #4y+18y^2+8-10y^4#?

1 Answer
Apr 25, 2018

Leading term: #-10y^4#
Leading coefficient: #-10#
Degree is fourth-degree or quartic

Explanation:

First, rewrite the polynomial in standard form (highest exponents first):
#-10y^4+18y^2+4y+8#
The leading term is the first term, so #-10y^4#
The leading coefficient is the number multiplied to #y# in the first term, so #-10#
The degree is the highest exponent, so #4#. We say this is a fourth-degree or quartic polynomial.