Find the Degree, Leading Term, and Leading Coefficient f(x)=-7x^2-7-4x^4

$f (x) = - 7 x^{2} - 7 - 4 x^{4}$

Step 1

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

Move $- 7$ .

$f (x) = - 7 x^{2} - 4 x^{4} - 7$

Reorder $- 7 x^{2}$ and $- 4 x^{4}$ .

$f (x) = - 4 x^{4} - 7 x^{2} - 7$

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.

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

$- 7 x^{2} \to 2$

$- 7 \to 0$

The largest exponent is the degree of the polynomial.

$4$

Step 3

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

$- 4 x^{4}$

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.

$- 4 x^{4}$

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

$- 4$

Step 5

List the results.

Polynomial Degree: $4$

Leading Term: $- 4 x^{4}$

Leading Coefficient: $- 4$