Classifying Polynomials

the sum of the exponents of the variables in the monomial. The degree of a nonzero constant term is 0. The constant 0 does not have a degree.

Degree of a Monomial

a number, a variable, or the product of a number and one or more variables with whole number exponents.

Monomial

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a monomial or a sum of monomials. Each monomial is called a term of the polynomial. A polynomial with two terms is a binomial. A polynomial with three terms is a trinomial.

Definition

The greatest degree of its terms

Definition

A polynomial in one variable is in standard form when the exponents of the terms decrease from left to right. When you write a polynomial in standard form, the coefficient of the first term is the leading coefficient.

Definition