Two students are analyzing the expression 3x7y5
Jessica states that the expression is a binomial with a degree of 12. Sam states that the expression is a monomial with a degree of 7.
Is either student correct? Justify your answer.
Neither student is correct.
The expression 3x7y5 has two terms - 3x7y5 and 3. It is not a binomial (which would have exactly two terms) nor a monomial (which would have only one term).
To find the degree of a term, you add up the exponents of the variables. In this case, the degree of the term 3x7y5 is 7 (from the exponent of y). Therefore, the expression as a whole does not have a single degree like a monomial would.