Chapter 2: Polynomials

Types of Polynomials

By Number of Terms

TypeTermsExamples
Monomial1 term5x25x^2, 3y-3y, 77
Binomial2 termsx+5x + 5, 3y223y^2 - 2
Trinomial3 termsx2+2x+1x^2 + 2x + 1

By Degree

DegreeNameStandard FormExample
0Constantaa77, 3-3
1Linearax+bax + b2x+12x + 1
2Quadraticax2+bx+cax^2 + bx + cx2+3x+2x^2 + 3x + 2
3Cubicax3+bx2+cx+dax^3 + bx^2 + cx + dx32x2+x1x^3 - 2x^2 + x - 1
4Quarticax4+...ax^4 + ...x41x^4 - 1

How to Find the Degree

Step 1: Write polynomial in standard form (descending powers) Step 2: The highest power is the degree

Examples:

PolynomialStandard FormDegree
5+3x2+x5 + 3x^2 + x3x2+x+53x^2 + x + 52
7x2x3+x27x - 2x^3 + x^22x3+x2+7x-2x^3 + x^2 + 7x3
88880

Practice: Classify These

  1. x2+xx^2 + xQuadratic (degree 2), Binomial (2 terms)
  2. x3x^3Cubic (degree 3), Monomial (1 term)
  3. 55Constant (degree 0), Monomial (1 term)