Find the Degree -56a^2y^3+23a^2y-29a+17

$- 56 a^{2} y^{3} + 23 a^{2} y - 29 a + 17$

Identify the exponents on the variables in each term, and add them together to find the degree of each term.

$- 56 a^{2} y^{3} \to 5$