Find the Degree, Leading Term, and Leading Coefficient f(x)=-8x-5-x^4+8x^3

$f (x) = - 8 x - 5 - x^{4} + 8 x^{3}$

Step 1

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

Move $- 5$ .

$f (x) = - 8 x - x^{4} + 8 x^{3} - 5$

Move $- 8 x$ .

$f (x) = - x^{4} + 8 x^{3} - 8 x - 5$

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.

$- x^{4} \to 4$

$8 x^{3} \to 3$

$- 8 x \to 1$

$- 5 \to 0$

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.

$- x^{4}$

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.

$- x^{4}$

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

$- 1$

Step 5

List the results.

Polynomial Degree: $4$

Leading Term: $- x^{4}$

Leading Coefficient: $- 1$