Identify the degree of the polynomial 8x^3y^2 – 10xy + 4x^2y^2 + 3.

When the polynomial has more than one variable you have to sum the exponents of the variables for every monomial. The largest sum is the order of the polynomial.

Here:

momomial   sum of the exponents
8x^3y^2       3 + 2  = 5
-10xy           1 + 1 = 2
4x^2y^2       2 + 2 = 4

Then the degree is 5.