Math A

Monomials, Binomials, and Polynomials
 
bullet A monomial is a constant, a variable, or the product of a constant and one or more variables.
bullet A polynomial is the sum of one or more monomials.
 
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"... this means that a monomial is a single term which has NO plus sign (+) or minus sign (-) between entries.  It could be things like
 13, 3x, -57, x², 4y², -2xy, or  520x²y²  
 but NOT (2x+7) or (4x²-2x)."

"A polynomial can be one monomial or a bunch of monomials hooked together with plus signs and/or minus signs."

 

Name Number of Terms    Example
Monomial 1 (mono implies one) 4x²
Binomial 2(bi implies two) 4x² + 3x
Trinomial 3(tri implies three) 4x² + 3x + 5

             
The expression  4x² is a monomial because it has one term.

The expression 4x² + 3x is a binomial because it has two terms.

The expression  4x² +3x + 5 is a trinomial because it has three terms.                                                                           

All three expressions can be called polynomials.

 

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Roberts

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