Introduction to Polynomials

A polynomial is a special kind of expression where each term is constants, variable or a product
of a constant and variables. Thus, an algebraic expression is not a polynomial:
 when the variable is in the denominator
 when the exponent is not a whole number
 when the variable is inside the radical sign

Kinds of Polynomial according to the number of terms

1) Monomial – is a polynomial with only one term
2) Binomial – is polynomial with two terms
3) Trinomial – is a polynomial with three terms
4) Polynomial or multinomial – is a polynomial with four or more terms

Kinds of Polynomial according to its degree

1) Constant – a polynomial of degree zero
2) Linear – a polynomial of degree one
3) Quadratic – a polynomial of degree two
4) Cubic – a polynomial of degree three
5) Quartic – a polynomial of degree four
6) Quintic – a polynomial of degree five
* The next degrees have no universal name yet so they are just called “polynomial of degree
____.”

A polynomial is in Standard Form if its terms are arranged from the term with the highest
degree, up to the term with the lowest degree. If the polynomial is in standard form the first term
is called the Leading Term, the numerical coefficient of the leading term is called the Leading
Coefficient and the exponent or the sum of the exponents of the variable in the leading term the
Degree of the polynomial