What is a polynomial, and when is it considered to be one?
A polynomial consists of different terms (they are divided by plus and minus signs). And to know if it is a polynomial, you'll have to look for the following :
- Constants, (2, -20, 0.5)
- Variables, (a, xy, x) Each different letter is a variable, even if it is written next to each other, and if there are more than one of the same variables then you only write it once.
- Exponents, (y^2)
^ : Meaning to the power of
For example :
This is known as a trinomial.
This polynomial consists out of 3 terms and also consists out of a constant, variables and exponents. So we have full proof that this is a polynomial.
Types of polynomials :
How many terms must there be for it to be a polynomial?
It doesn't matter how many terms there are for it to be a polynomial. It can be one, two, three, etc.
Complete the following by just writing down how many terms, constants, variables and exponents there is.
1. 3xy - 4yz + 2xz
2. 52x^3 - 19y^5
3. 5x^3 - 8x + 3x^5 + 4x^2 - 7x^4 + 1
4. 3x5 - 2x3 - 4x + 7a - 9
Answers will be revealed in my next post.
Here is a video just to explain better if you do not understand: