Page 4 - (1-1)eng

Elly fat mn 3omry ( 1 – 1 )
Polynomials

n
A polynomial in x is an algebraic expression that has only terms of the form a x , where a is any
real number and n is a natural number.
Examples
(a) 3 x A polynomial of one term is called a monomial

4
(b) 4 x – 2 x 2 A polynomial of two unlike terms is called a binomial

2
(c) 8 x – 5 x + 2 A polynomial of three unlike terms is called a trinomial

2
3
(d) x + 3 x + 2 x + 1 We will not use special names for polynomials of more
5
than three terms

(e) 5 This is a polynomial of one term (monomial) because

0
its only term has the form 5 x

Examples
– 2
(a) 4 x This expression is not a polynomial because the
exponent – 2 is not natural number.

1
(b) 5 x  5 x This expression is not a polynomial because the
2
1
exponent is not natural number.
2

3
(c) This is not a polynomial because the term does not have

x 7
n
the form a x

The degree of a polynomial is the greatest exponent of the variable ( provided like terms have
been combined ).

Calculus 3 Unit (1)