Find the Degree, Leading Term, and Leading Coefficient (a^4)/7+a^3-9a^5

$\frac{a^{4}}{7} + a^{3} - 9 a^{5}$

Step 1

Simplify the polynomial, then reorder it left to right starting with the highest degree term.

Move $a^{3}$ .

$\frac{a^{4}}{7} - 9 a^{5} + a^{3}$

Reorder $\frac{a^{4}}{7}$ and $- 9 a^{5}$ .

$- 9 a^{5} + \frac{a^{4}}{7} + a^{3}$

Step 2

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.

$- 9 a^{5} \to 5$

$\frac{a^{4}}{7} \to 4$

$a^{3} \to 3$

The largest exponent is the degree of the polynomial.

$5$

Step 3

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

$- 9 a^{5}$

Step 4

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.

$- 9 a^{5}$

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

$- 9$

Step 5

List the results.

Polynomial Degree: $5$

Leading Term: $- 9 a^{5}$

Leading Coefficient: $- 9$