The degree of a polynomial is the highest number as an exponent in a term, for example, 5x^3+5x^2, 3 is the degree. To find it, you need to either just find the highest number or add up multiple degrees in one term. An example of this is 5x^3y^3+4x^3y^2. Since 3+3=6 and 3+2=5, the first term has the highest degree.
