[tex]\bf 3x^2+6xy-10x^5+y^6-10x^3y^5\qquad
\begin{cases}
3x^2\impliedby &\textit{degree of }2\\
6xy\impliedby &x^1y^1\\
&\textit{degree of }1+1\\
&\textit{degree of }2\\
10x^5\impliedby &\textit{degree of }5\\
y^6\impliedby &\textit{degree of }6\\
10x^3y^5\impliedby &x^3y^5\\
&\textit{degree of }3+5\\
&\textit{degree of }8
\end{cases}[/tex]
and the degree of the polynomial, is the same as the term with the highest degree, in this case 8.