What is the degree of a cubic polynomial?

A cubic polynomial is defined as a polynomial of degree three. The degree of a polynomial is determined by the highest exponent of its variable in the expression. For instance, a general form of a cubic polynomial can be expressed as ( ax^3 + bx^2 + cx + d ), where ( a, b, c, ) and ( d ) are constants and ( a \neq 0 ). The leading term, which is ( ax^3 ), indicates that the highest power of ( x ) is 3, thus establishing the polynomial as cubic. This characteristic distinguishes cubic polynomials from those of other degrees, reinforcing the idea that the degree of a cubic polynomial specifically equals 3.