Find the Degree x^4+2x^3-5x^2+7x=21

$x^{4} + 2 x^{3} - 5 x^{2} + 7 x = 21$

Step 1

Subtract $21$ from both sides of the equation.

$x^{4} + 2 x^{3} - 5 x^{2} + 7 x - 21 = 0$

Step 2

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

$x^{4} \to 4$

$2 x^{3} \to 3$

$- 5 x^{2} \to 2$

$7 x \to 1$

$- 21 \to 0$

Step 3

The largest exponent is the degree of the polynomial.

$4$