A monomial is a kind of algebraic expression. It is a number or a product of a number and one or more variables with positive integral exponents. For example, 3, x, y2/2, and -5pq are monomials.
A polynomial is a monomial or a sum of 2 or more monomials. If it consists of 2 monomials, it is called a binomial. If it consists of 3 monomials, it is called trinomial.
For example:
Each monomial in a polynomial is called a term of the polynomial. If a term does not contain any variable, it called a constant term. The number in front of a variable in a term including the sign is called the numerical coefficient of the term. For example the numerical coefficient of -3x2y is -3.
The degree of a monomial is the sum of the exponents of all the variables in that term. The degree of a polynomial is the highest degree among all the monomials in that polynomial.
If a polynomial consists of one variable only, it si called a polynomial in one variable. We usually arrange the terms of a polynomial in one variable in ascending powers or descending powers of the variable.
The value of apolynomial can be determined by substituting the values of all the variables and applying the order and properties of operations.
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