Question

Find the degree of this polynomial? 13-4ab+5a^3b

Answer 1

Let's take a peek of each term, to be specific, the exponent of the variables only, to see what degree each term is

$\bf 13-4ab+5a^3b\quad \begin{cases} 13\impliedby \textit{no variable, degree is 0}\\ 4ab\to 4a^1b^1\impliedby \textit{1+1, degree is 2}\\ 5a^3b\to 5a^3b^1\impliedby\textit{3+1, degree is 4} \end{cases}$

so...which term has the highest degree? well, that one, is the degree of the polynomial