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Basic Concepts of Polynomials

This document introduces basic concepts about polynomials including: - Polynomials can be monomials (one term), binomials (two terms), or trinomials (three terms) - The degree of a polynomial is the highest degree of its terms, where the degree of a term is the exponent of its variable - Examples are provided to identify polynomials as monomials, binomials, trinomials or other polynomials, and to determine the degree of polynomials.

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Jaff Lawrence
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
135 views

Basic Concepts of Polynomials

This document introduces basic concepts about polynomials including: - Polynomials can be monomials (one term), binomials (two terms), or trinomials (three terms) - The degree of a polynomial is the highest degree of its terms, where the degree of a term is the exponent of its variable - Examples are provided to identify polynomials as monomials, binomials, trinomials or other polynomials, and to determine the degree of polynomials.

Uploaded by

Jaff Lawrence
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Basic concepts of polynomials

LEARNING OUTCOMES
 Identify whether a polynomial is a monomial, binomial, or trinomial
 Determine the degree of a polynomial

Identify Polynomials, Monomials, Binomials, and Trinomials


In Evaluate, Simplify, and Translate Expressions, you learned that a term is a constant or the
product of a constant and one or more variables. When it is of the form axmaxm, where aa is
a constant and mm is a whole number, it is called a monomial. A monomial, or a sum and/or
difference of monomials, is called a polynomial.

POLYNOMIALS
polynomial—A monomial, or two or more monomials, combined by addition or subtraction
monomial—A polynomial with exactly one term
binomial— A polynomial with exactly two terms
trinomial—A polynomial with exactly three terms

Notice the roots:


 poly– means many
 mono– means one
 bi– means two
 tri– means three
Here are some examples of polynomials:
Polynomial b+1b+1 4y2−7y+24y2−7y+2 5x5−4x4+x3+8x2−9x+15x5−4x4+x3+8x2−9x+1

Monomial 55 4b24b2 −9x3−9x3

Binomial 3a−73a−7 y2−9y2−9 17x3+14x217x3+14x2

Trinomial x2−5x+6x2−5x+6 4y2−7y+24y2−7y+2 5a4−3a3+a5a4−3a3+a


Notice that every monomial, binomial, and trinomial is also a polynomial. They are special
members of the family of polynomials and so they have special names. We use the words
‘monomial’, ‘binomial’, and ‘trinomial’ when referring to these special polynomials and just
call all the rest ‘polynomials’.

EXAMPLE
Determine whether each polynomial is a monomial, binomial, trinomial, or other polynomial:
1. 8x2−7x−98x2−7x−9
2. −5a4−5a4
3. x4−7x3−6x2+5x+2x4−7x3−6x2+5x+2
4. 11−4y311−4y3
5. nn
Solution
Polynomial Number of terms Type

1. 8x2−7x−98x2−7x−9 33 Trinomial

2. −5a4−5a4 11 Monomial

3. x4−7x3−6x2+5x+2x4−7x3−6x2+5x+2 55 Polynomial

4. 11−4y311−4y3 22 Binomial

5. nn 11 Monomial
TRY IT

Determine the Degree of Polynomials


In this section, we will work with polynomials that have only one variable in each term. The
degree of a polynomial and the degree of its terms are determined by the exponents of the
variable.
A monomial that has no variable, just a constant, is a special case. The degree of a constant
is 00 —it has no variable.

DEGREE OF A POLYNOMIAL
The degree of a term is the exponent of its variable.
The degree of a constant is 00.
The degree of a polynomial is the highest degree of all its terms.

Let’s see how this works by looking at several polynomials. We’ll take it step by step, starting
with monomials, and then progressing to polynomials with more terms.
Remember: Any base written without an exponent has an implied exponent of 11.

EXAMPLE
Find the degree of the following polynomials:
1. 4x4x
2. 3x3−5x+73x3−5x+7
3. −11−11
4. −6x2+9x−3−6x2+9x−3
5. 8x+28x+2
Show Solution
Solution
1. 4x4x

The exponent of xx is one. x=x1x=x1 The degree is 11.

2. 3x3−5x+73x3−5x+7

The highest degree of all the terms is 33. The degree is 33

3. −11−11

The degree of a constant is 00. The degree is 00.

4. −6x2+9x−3−6x2+9x−3

The highest degree of all the terms is 22. The degree is 22.

5. 8x+28x+2

The highest degree of all the terms is 11. The degree is 11.

TRY IT

Working with polynomials is easier when you list the terms in descending order of degrees.
When a polynomial is written this way, it is said to be in standard form. Look back at the
polynomials in the previous example. Notice that they are all written in standard form. Get in
the habit of writing the term with the highest degree first.

LICENSES AND ATTRIBUTIONS


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