Answer:
Degree: The degree of a polynomial is determined by the highest exponent of the variable. In the given polynomial, 5x^4 + 12, the highest exponent of the variable x is 4. Therefore, the degree of the polynomial is 4. The degree indicates the highest power of x in the polynomial.
Number of Terms: The number of terms in a polynomial is determined by how many separate parts are added or subtracted. In the given polynomial, there are two separate parts: 5x^4 and 12. Therefore, the polynomial has two terms. The terms are usually separated by a plus or minus sign.
To summarize, the polynomial 5x^4 + 12 is a fourth-degree polynomial because the highest exponent of x is 4, and it has two terms.
