POLYNOMIALS
A polynomial is a monomial or a sum or difference of monomials. The degree of a polynomial is the degree of the term with the greatest degree.
A monomial is a number, a variable, or a product of numbers and variables with whole number exponents.
|
5, x, -7xy, 0.5x4 |
-0.3x-2, 4x - y, 2/x3 |
The degree of a monomial is the sum of the exponents of the variables. A constant has degree 0.
Finding the Degree of a Monomial
Find the degree of each monomial.
Example 1 :
-2a2b4
Solution :
Add the exponents of the variables : 2 + 4 = 6.
The degree is 6.
Example 2 :
4
Solution :
4x0
There is no variable, but you can write 4 as 4x0 .
The degree is 0.
Example 3 :
8y
Solution :
8y1
A variable written without an exponent has exponent 1.
The degree is 1.
Finding the Degree of a Polynomial
Find the degree of each polynomial.
Example 4 :
4x - 18x5
Solution :
Find the degree of each term.
4x : degree 1
-18x5 : degree 5
The degree of the polynomial is the greatest degree, 5.
Example 5 :
0.5x2y + 0.25xy + 0.75
Solution :
Find the degree of each term.
0.5x2y = degree 3
0.25xy = degree 2
0.75 = degree 0
The degree of the polynomial is the greatest degree, 3.
Example 6 :
6x4 + 9x2 - x + 3
Solution :
Find the degree of each term.
6x4 = degree 4
9x2 = degree 2
-x = degree 1
3 = degree 0
The degree of the polynomial is the greatest degree, 4.
The terms of a polynomial may be written in any order. However, polynomials that contain only one variable are usually written in standard form.
The standard form of a polynomial that contains one variable is written with the terms in order from greatest degree to least degree. When written in standard form, the coefficient of the first term is called the leading coefficient.
Writing Polynomials in Standard Form
Write each polynomial in standard form. Then give the leading coefficient.
Example 7 :
20x - 4x3 + 2 - x2
Solution :
Find the degree of each term.
20x = degree 1
-4x3 = degree 3
2 = degree 0
-x2 = degree 2
Arrange them in descending order :
-4x3 - x2 + 20x + 2
The standard form is (-4x3 - x2 + 20x + 2) and the leading coefficient is -4.
Example 8 :
y3 + y5 + 4y
Solution :
Find the degree of each term.
y3 = degree 3
y5 = degree 5
4y = degree 1
Arrange them in descending order :
y5 + y3 + 4y
The standard form is (y5 + y3 + 4y) and the leading coefficient is 1.
Some polynomials have special names based on their degree and the number of terms they have.
|
Degree 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 or more |
Name Constant Linear Quadratic Cubic Quartic Quintic 6th degree, 7th degree, and so on |
|
Terms 1 2 3 4 or more |
Name Monomial Binomial Trinomial Polynomial |
Classifying Polynomials
Classify each polynomial according to its degree and number of terms.
Example 9 :
5x - 6
Solution :
Degree : 1
Terms : 2
(5x - 6) is a linear binomial.
Example 10 :
y2 + y + 4
Solution :
Degree : 2
Terms : 3
(y2 + y + 4) is a quadratic trinomial.
Example 11 :
5x7 + 8x2 - x + 3
Solution :
Degree : 7
Terms : 4
(5x7 + 8x2 - x + 3) is a 7th-degree trinomial.
Physics Application
Example 12 :
A firework is launched from a platform 6 feet above the ground at a speed of 200 feet per second. The firework has a 5-second fuse. The height of the firework in feet is given by the polynomial -16t2 + 200t + 6, where t is the time in seconds. How high will the firework be when it explodes?
Solution :
Substitute the time for t to find the firework’s height.
-16t2 + 200t + 6
The time is 5 seconds.
= -16(5)2 + 200(5) + 6
Evaluate the polynomial by using the order of operations.
= -16(25) + 1000 + 6
= -400 + 1000 + 6
= 606
When the firework explodes, it will be 606 feet above the ground.
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