Polynomial vocabulary

key notes:

To understand polynomials it’s essential to have the right vocabulary.

Today we’ll define term, coefficient, variable,  degree, polynomial, leading coefficient, constant term, monomial, binomial, and trinomial.

Term:

• Terms are the building blocks of polynomials. 
• Terms are expressions or numbers that are added or subtracted.
  • Some example terms: , , , , .
  • Notice that terms do not include plus or minus signs, only multiplication.

Constant:

• The number without any variable is called a “constant”.
  • In 5x + 2. 👉 2 is constant
  • In 8x² + 2x – 3. 👉 3 is constant

Coefficient:

• The number multiplied by a variable is called the “coefficient”.
  • In 5x + 2. 👉 5 is the coefficient of x.
  • In 8x³ + 7. 👉 8 is the coefficient of x³.

Variable:

• Variables, as you probably already know, are letters that represent numbers. The letter we use as a variable most often is.
  • In 8x³ + 7. 👉 x is the Variable.
  • In 5y² + 7y – 6. 👉y is the Variable.

Degree:

• The degree of a term is the exponent of its variable.
• To find the degree of a polynomial, find the term with the largest degree.
• Some example:
  • Since 2r² has an exponent of 2, it has a degree of 2.
  • the polynomial 10u + 5 has a degree of 1.
  • the polynomial –p³ + 5p + 7 has a degree of 3.

Learn with an example

let’s practice!🖊️