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How do you find the degree of #-4#?

Answer 1

Abigail Allen

#0#

A polynomial is a sum of terms in some variable, or variables with non-negative integer degrees.

The degree of the polynomial is the highest degree of each of the constituent terms.

In our example:

#-4 = -4x^0#

has degree #0#

So the polynomial #-4# has degree #0#.

Warning

You might think that the zero polynomial #0# also has degree #0#, but note that it is the sum of no terms with non-zero coefficients.

It is probably best said to have undefined degree, but if one is assigned, then it is conventionally the value #-1# or the value #-oo#.

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Answer 2

Isaiah Anthony

The degree of -4 is 0.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.