Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
polynomial
Noun
/ˌpɒlɪˈnəʊmiəl/
Definition
A polynomial is a mathematical expression consisting of variables raised to whole number powers and their coefficients.
Examples
- The expression 2x² + 3x + 1 is a polynomial of degree 2.
- When solving algebraic equations, you often factor polynomials to find their roots.
- A cubic polynomial can be written in the form ax³ + bx² + cx + d.
Meaning
In simpler terms, a polynomial is an expression that combines numbers and letters (variables) using addition, subtraction, and multiplication, but never division by a variable, and the exponents of the variables are non-negative integers.
Synonyms
- Multinomial
- Polynomial function
