what is the leading coefficient and degree of the polynomial?

Question

According to this equation what is the leading coefficient and degree of the polynomial?

(-9u^3) +u+20-8u^7

Answer 1

As it is written the equation is 7th degree and the leading coefficient is the associated with the term of highest degree, thus it is -8.

The proper form for writing a polynomial proceeds from the highest-exponent term to the constant term. So we would have expected this expression to have been written:

-8u^7 - 9u^3 + u + 20