Math Dictionary / Polynomial
Polynomial
A polynomial is an expression made from constants, variables, and non-negative whole-number exponents using addition, subtraction, and multiplication.
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What it means
Polynomials can have one term, two terms, three terms, or many terms.
Also called: algebraic expression
Examples
| 3x^2 + 5x – 7 |
| x + 9 |
| 2a^3b is a term in a polynomial |
Common mistake
A variable in a denominator or under a square root usually means the expression is not a polynomial.
Try one
Question: Is x^2 + 4x + 1 a polynomial?
Show answer
Yes. The variable exponents are non-negative whole numbers.