For f(x) = 5 + 2x cubed - 7x to the sixth + x, what is the leading coefficient?

1. Rearrange the polynomial so the powers descend rather than trusting the printed order. 2. That gives negative 7x to the sixth, then 2x cubed, then x, then 5. 3. The highest power of x is 6, so the degree is 6. 4. The leading term is the one carrying that degree, which is negative 7x to the sixth. 5. The leading coefficient is the coefficient of the leading term, so it is negative 7. 6. Answering 5 reads the first printed number as if the terms were already in order. 7. Answering 2 takes the coefficient of the cubic term, which is not the highest power. 8. Answering 1 takes the coefficient of the lone x term, which is the lowest power present. _Source: OpenStax Precalculus (CC BY 4.0), section 3.3 Power Functions and Polynomial Functions_