Polynomial Facts for Kids

In mathematics, a polynomial is a kind of mathematical expression. It is a sum of several mathematical terms called monomials. That is, a number, a variable, or a product of a number and several variables. When an algebraic expression contains letters mixed with numbers and arithmetic, like 7x⁴-3x³+19x²-8x+197, there is a good chance that it is a polynomial. Polynomials are taught in algebra, which is a gateway course to all technical subjects. Mathematicians, scientists and engineers all use polynomials to solve problems.

In algebra, when letters, numbers, and arithmetic symbols occur together, the understanding is that the letters stand for variables, which are either symbols of their own, numbers not yet known, or numbers that change during the course of the problem (such as time). A polynomial is an algebraic expression in which the only arithmetic is addition, subtraction, multiplication and whole number exponentiation. If harder operations are used, such as division or square roots, then this algebraic expression is not a polynomial. Polynomials are often easier to use than other algebraic expressions.

Polynomials are often used to form polynomial equations, such as the equation 7x⁴-3x³+19x²-8x+197 = 0, or polynomial functions, such as f(x) = 7x⁴-3x³+19x²-8x+197.

Terminology

Given a series of n numbers $k_0, \ldots, k_n$ , a polynomial of variable $x$ generally takes the form $k_n x^n + \ldots + k_0 x^0$ . The parts of a polynomial separated by plus (or minus) signs are called "terms", and the signs are themselves part of the term.

(In a polynomial, multiplication is "understood". That means, for example, that 2x means two times x, or twice x. So that if x is 7, then 2x is 14.)

Thus, in the polynomial 7x⁴-3x³+19x²-8x+197, the terms are:

7x⁴

-3x³

+19x²

-8x

+197

If a polynomial has only one term, it is called a "monomial". Monomial are also the building blocks of polynomials. For example, 5x³ is a monomial.

In a term, the multiplier out in front is called a "coefficient". The letter is called an "unknown" or a "variable", and the raised number after the letter is called an exponent. On a calculator and some computers, instead of putting an exponent above and to the right of the variable, the symbol ^ is used, so that the monomial above could be written as 5x^3.

A polynomial with exactly two terms is called a "binomial". A polynomial with exactly three terms is called a "trinomial". Within a term:

A term with no variables in it is called a "constant term".
A term with one variable but no exponent is called a "first degree term", or a "linear term".
A term with one variable which has exponent 2 is called a "second degree term" or "quadratic term". A "quadratic equation" is an equation in which the largest exponent on any term is 2.
A term with one variable which has exponent 3 is called a "third degree term" or "cubic term." A "cubic equation" is an equation in which the largest exponent on any term is 3.
A term with one variable which has exponent 4 is called a "fourth degree term" or "quartic term." A "quartic equation" is an equation in which the largest exponent on any term is 4.
A term with one variable which has exponent 5 is called a "fifth degree term" or "quintic term." A "quintic equation" is an equation in which the largest exponent on any term is 5.
A term with one variable which has exponent 6 is called a "sixth degree term" or "sextic term." A "sextic equation" is an equation in which the largest exponent on any term is 6.

Polynomial facts for kids

Terminology

Related pages

See also