Chapter 4 - Polynomials - 4.7 Polynomials in Several Variables - 4.7 Exercise Set - Page 283: 3

Option (a)

RECALL: (1) The degree of a term is equal to the sum of the exponents of its variables. (2) The degree of a polynomial is equal to the degree of the term with the highest degree. The terms of the polynomial have the following degrees: $2x^2y$: degree is 3 $7xy^3$: degree is 4 $5x^2y$: degree is 3 The highest degree among the three terms is $4$. Thus, the degree of the polynomial is $4$. Therefore, the answer is Option (a).