Find the degree of the polynomial  $$8x^4 + 2x^2y^3 + 4$$

We observe that the above polynomial has four terms. Here the first term is $$8x^4$$, the second term is $$2x^2y^3$$, the third term is 4.

Now we will determine the exponent of each term.

(i) the exponent of the first term $$8x^4 = 0$$

(ii) the exponent of the second term $$2x^2y^3 = 2=3=5$$

(iii) the exponent of the third term 4 = 0


Since, the greatest exponent is 5, the degree of $$8x^4 + 2x^2y^3 + 4$$ is also 5.