How to tell the difference between the leading coefficient and the degree of a polynomial

The video tutorial explains polynomials, focusing on the degree and leading coefficient. It begins with an introduction to polynomials and provides an example to illustrate the concept of degree. The tutorial then discusses organizing polynomials by degree and explains how to identify the leading coefficient. Finally, it covers identifying terms and their coefficients within a polynomial.

What is the degree of the polynomial -X^4 + 1/2X^3 - 7X^2 + 3X + 5?

• 5

• 2

• 3

• 4

Why do we organize polynomials from largest to smallest power?

• To make calculations easier

• To easily see the largest power

• To identify the constant term

• To simplify the polynomial

What is the leading coefficient of the polynomial -X^4 + 1/2X^3 - 7X^2 + 3X + 5?

• -7

• -1

• 3

• 1/2

Which term in a polynomial determines the leading coefficient?

• The middle term

• The term with the largest exponent

• The constant term

• The term with the smallest exponent

How many terms are there in the polynomial -X^4 + 1/2X^3 - 7X^2 + 3X + 5?

• 5

• 4

• 3

• 6