CHAPTER
12
Operations with
Monomials and
Polynomials
Monomials and Polynomials
Recall from Chapter 7 that an algebraic expressionconsists of variables
(letters), constants (numbers), operation signs, and grouping symbols. Also
recall that atermof an algebraic expression consists of a number, variable, or
a product or quotient of numbers and variables. The terms of an algebraic
expression are connected byþorsigns. An algebraic expression consisting
only of the four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and divi-
sion), and which has no variable in the denominator of a term, is called a
polynomial. If the expression has one term, it is called a monomial. If the
expression has two terms, it is called abinomial. If the expression has three
terms, it is called atrinomial.233
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