The degree of a polynomial is determined by the term with the highest degree. In this case, the first term, , has the highest degree, . The degree of a term is calculated by adding the exponents of each variable in the term.

The degree of a polynomial is the highest exponent of the terms.

Degree 0 – constant

Degree 1 – linear

Degree 2 – quadratic

Degree 3 – cubic

Degree 4 – quartic

Multiply out the equation:

(y + 2)(y + 4)(y + 1) = z

(y2 + 2y + 4y + 8)(y + 1) = z

y3 + 2y2 + 4y2 + 8y + y2 + 2y + 4y + 8 = z

The highest exponent is y3;therefore the equation is a degree 3 cubic.

The degree of a polynomial is determined by the term with the highest degree. In this case that is , which has a degree of .