Find the Degree, Leading Term, and Leading Coefficient 2x^5-4x^4+4.5x^2-17x

$2 x^{5} - 4 x^{4} + 4.5 x^{2} - 17 x$

Step 1

The degree of a polynomial is the highest degree of its terms.

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

$2 x^{5} \to 5$

$- 4 x^{4} \to 4$

$4.5 x^{2} \to 2$

$- 17 x \to 1$

The largest exponent is the degree of the polynomial.

$5$

Step 2

The leading term in a polynomial is the term with the highest degree.

$2 x^{5}$

Step 3

The leading coefficient of a polynomial is the coefficient of the leading term.

The leading term in a polynomial is the term with the highest degree.

$2 x^{5}$

The leading coefficient in a polynomial is the coefficient of the leading term.

$2$

Step 4

List the results.

Polynomial Degree: $5$

Leading Term: $2 x^{5}$

Leading Coefficient: $2$