The Facts On File Algebra Handbook

Polynomial CHARTS & TABLES

Polynomial CHARTS & TABLES

Polynomial (continued)

Like Terms

When the monomials in the string have the same variables, they are called like terms.

Here are some examples:

1/2x+ 3x

5 xy– 2xy

4 x^2 y^3 +x^2 y^3 – 1/3 x^2 y^3

Numbers as Polynomials

To express a number in the form of a polynomial, the number is expanded to its

power of 10 and written as an expression. Here are some examples of numbers that

are expanded into polynomial form:

43 4(10^1 ) + 3

747 7(10^2 ) +4(10^1 ) + 7

2,556 2(10^3 ) +5(10^2 ) +5(10^1 ) + 6

Trinomials

A polynomial that has exactly three terms, in other words, an expression that consists

of a string of three monomials, is also called a trinomial. Here are some examples of

trinomials:

8 x^2 y^3 +√–9 – 3

4 xy^2 + 6y– 7x^2 y

4 x^2 y^3 +x^2 y^3 –^1 / 3 x^2 y^3

Unlike Terms

When the monomials in the string havedifferent variables, they are called unlike

terms.

Here is an example:

-^1 / 3 x+ 4x^2 y