DEGREE OF A POLYNOMIAL IN TWO VARIABLES In a polynomial in more than one variable the sum of the powers of the variables in each term is computed and the highest sum. so obtained is called the degree of the polynomial.
\( 3x^4 — 2x^3y^2 + 7xy^3 — 9x + 5y +4 \) is a polynomial in x and y of degree 5,
Whereas \( 1/2 * 3x + 7x^2 y — ¾ x^2 y^2 \) is a polynomial of degree 4 in x and y.