No, the student is incorrect. The given expression has five terms: -4x^5, -3x^4, 8x^7, -6x.
The degree of the expression is determined by the highest exponent on the variable 'x', which in this case is 7. Therefore, the degree of the expression is 7, not 4.
Although the first term, -4x^5, has a negative coefficient, the leading coefficient is the coefficient of the term with the highest degree, which is 8 in this case. Thus, the leading coefficient is positive, not negative.
A student states that -4x^5 - 3x^4 + 8x^7 - 6x has four terms, a degree of 4, and a negative leading coefficent. Is the student correct? Explain.
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