Question

What is the degree of `P(x) = x^3(x+2)(x-3)^2`?

Answer 1

The degree of `P(x)` is 6.

Explanation:

The degree of a polynomial is the largest exponent of its variable (after all factors are distributed).

If we multiply the given factors out, we can guarantee we'll have an `x^3 xx x xx x^2` term, and the exponent of this term is `3+1+2=6`. All other terms will have `x` to a lower power, and so 6 is the degree of this polynomial.