Final answer:
The degree of the polynomial 5x^4y - 7x^3z^3 + 27x^2 is 6, as it is the highest sum of the exponents in any single term of the polynomial.
Step-by-step explanation:
The degree of the polynomial 5x^4y − 7x^3z^3 + 27x^2 is determined by looking at the exponents of each term. In a polynomial, the degree is the highest sum of the exponents of variables in any single term. For the term 5x^4y, the exponents of x and y add up to 4+1=5. For 7x^3z^3, the sum is 3+3=6. Finally, for 27x^2, the exponent is 2. Therefore, the greatest sum of exponents is 6 in the term 7x^3z^3, which means the degree of the polynomial is 6.