How do you find the leading coefficient of a polynomial written in standard form?

• A. Add all coefficients of the polynomial.
• B. Multiply the coefficients of all terms together.
• C. Identify the term with the greatest exponent and take its numerical coefficient.
• D. Take the constant term (the term with exponent $0$).

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the leading coefficient of a polynomial is the numerical coefficient of the term with the highest exponent (degree) when the polynomial is written in standard form.
2. Write the polynomial in standard form, which means arranging the terms in descending order of their exponents.
3. Identify the term that has the greatest exponent (the highest power of the variable).
4. Look at the numerical coefficient (the number multiplying the variable) of this highest-degree term.
5. This numerical coefficient is the leading coefficient of the polynomial.