Polynomial Vocabulary

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Monomial

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A polynomial with 1 term

example: 2x

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Binomial

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A polynomial with 2 terms

Example: 3x² + 4

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Trinomial

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A polynomial with three terms

Example: x³ + 3x² + 6

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Standard Form

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A polynomial whose terms are ordered by degree from greatest to least

Example: x³ + 4x² + 3x - 4

NOT an example: 4x² + x³ +3x -4

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Factored Form

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A polynomial whose terms are ordered as a product of it's factors.

Example: 2x(2x-3)(x-5)

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Constant

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A fixed value in an equation:

For example in the equation 3x + 4

4 is the constant.

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Coefficient

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A number used to multiply a variable.

In the example 3x + 4

3 is the coefficient

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Terms

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a single part of an algebraic expression, separated by addition or subtraction signs; it can be a number, a variable, or a combination of both multiplied together, essentially representing a single unit within a larger expression. 

In the example x² + 3x + 4 there are 3 terms: x², 3x, and 4.

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Variable

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is a symbol, typically a letter, that refers to an unspecified mathematical object.

In the Example x² + 3x + 4:

x is the variable.

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Exponent

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An exponent of a number shows how many times we are multiplying a number by itself. For example, 3⁴ means we are multiplying 3 four times.

They are also called powers or degree. You could call this 3 to the 4th power,

3 x 3 x 3 x 3 = 81

In the example x² + 3x + 4 , x is raised to the 2nd power or squared in the first term.