The leading coefficient of a polynomial is the coefficient of the monomial term with the greatest degree that has a nonzero coefficient.

For a generic polynomial in x,

anxn + an-1xn-1 + ... a1x + a0, where n is the largest nonnegative integer such that an is not equal to 0,

the leading coefficient is an. If the leading coefficient is equal to 1, then the polynomial is monic.

Log in or register to write something here or to contact authors.