How do you determine the degree of a polynomial in factored form? And how do you determine the degree of a polynomial in standard form?

Question

A.)  How do you determine the degree of a polynomial in factored form? 

B.)  How do you determine the degree of a polynomial in standard form? 

C.) How do you determine if a polynomial is “positive” or “negative”?

Answer 1

A> If the factors are ALL binomials, then the number of factors is the degree of the polynomial.

     If some of the factors have been left as quadratics (because there are complex roots), the count 2 for each quadratic and 1 for each binomial, the sum is the degree.

 

B> In standard form the degree of the polynomial is the highest exponent of the variable in the polynomial.

 

C> I am uncertain how you define a "positive" or "negative" polynomial unless by that is meant the sign of the highest order term.