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Polynomials

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3 views

Polynomials

Uploaded by

pirim2357
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Polynomials

A polynomial looks like this:

4xy 2 + 3x - 5

terms
example of a polynomial
this one has 3 terms

Polynomial comes from poly- (meaning "many") and -nomial (in this
case meaning "term") ... so it says "many terms"

Polynomials with one variable make nice smooth curves:

A polynomial can have:

constants (like 3, −20, or ½)

variables (like x and y)

exponents (like the 2 in y2), but only 0, 1, 2, 3, ... etc are allowed

that can be combined using addition, subtraction, multiplication and division ...

... but not division by a variable (so something like 2/x is right out)

So:
A polynomial can have constants, variables and exponents,
but never division by a variable.

Also they can have one or more terms, but not an infinite number of terms.

Polynomial or Not?
exponents: 0, 1, 2, ...

5xy 2 − 3x + 5y 3 − 3 3xy -2
2
terms x+2

A Polynomial Not Polynomials


These are polynomials:

3x

x−2

−6y2 − ( 7 )x
9

3xyz + 3xy2z − 0.1xz − 200y + 0.5

512v5 + 99w5

(Yes, "5" is a polynomial, one term is allowed, and it can be just a constant!)

These are not polynomials

3xy-2 is not, because the exponent is "-2" (exponents can only be 0,1,2,...)
2/(x+2) is not, because dividing by a variable is not allowed
1/x is not either
√x is not, because the exponent is "½" (see fractional exponents)
But these are allowed:

x/2 is allowed, because you can divide by a constant

also 3x/8 for the same reason

√2 is allowed, because it is a constant (= 1.4142...etc)

Monomial, Binomial, Trinomial


There are special names for polynomials with 1, 2 or 3 terms:

3xy 2 5x − 1 3x + 5y 2 − 3
Monomial (1 term) Binomial (2 terms) Trinomial (3 terms)

How do you remember the names? Think cycles!

Mono cycle Bicycle Tri cycle


There is also quadrinomial (4 terms) and quintinomial (5 terms),
but those names are not often used.

Variables
Polynomials can have no variable at all

Example: 21 is a polynomial. It has just one term, which is a constant.

Or one variable

Example: x4 − 2x2 + x has three terms, but only one variable (x)
Or two or more variables

Example: xy4 − 5x2z has two terms, and three variables (x, y and z)

What is Special About Polynomials?


Because of the strict definition, polynomials are easy to work with.

For example we know that:


If you add polynomials you get a polynomial
If you multiply polynomials you get a polynomial

So you can do lots of additions and multiplications, and still have a polynomial as the
result.

Also, polynomials of one variable are easy to graph, as they have smooth and
continuous lines.

Example: x4−2x2+x

See how nice and


smooth the curve is?

You can also divide polynomials (but the result may not be a polynomial).

Degree
The degree of a polynomial with only one variable is the largest exponent of that
variable.
Example:
4x3 − x + 2 The Degree is 3 (the largest exponent of x)

For more complicated cases, read Degree (of an Expression) .

Standard Form
The Standard Form for writing a polynomial is to put the terms with the highest
degree first.

Example: Put this in Standard Form: 3x2 − 7 + 4x3 + x6

The highest degree is 6, so that goes first, then 3, 2 and then the constant
last:

x6 + 4x3 + 3x2 − 7

You don't have to use Standard Form, but it helps.

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