Find the Degree, Leading Term, and Leading Coefficient h(x)=-3x^2+8x^3+x^4

$h (x) = - 3 x^{2} + 8 x^{3} + x^{4}$

Step 1

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

Move $- 3 x^{2}$ .

$h (x) = 8 x^{3} + x^{4} - 3 x^{2}$

Reorder $8 x^{3}$ and $x^{4}$ .

$h (x) = x^{4} + 8 x^{3} - 3 x^{2}$

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.

$x^{4} \to 4$

$8 x^{3} \to 3$

$- 3 x^{2} \to 2$

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: $1$