Polynomial

A polynomial is the sum of two or more terms.  A term can have constants, exponents and variables, such as  \(\large{ 13a^2 }\) .  Put them together and you get a polynomial.  Polynomials can not have an unlimited number of terms.

• Equation -  \(\large{ a^2b_c - 13a^2 + 9 - 7bx^3 }\)

Types of polynomials:

• Monomial - 1 term  \(\large{ 13a^2 }\)  
• Binomial - 2 terms  \(\large{ 13a^2+7x }\)
• Trinomial - 3 terms  \(\large{ 13a^2+7x-21 }\)

These are polynomials:

• \(\large{ 13 }\)
• \(\large{ 13a }\)
• \(\large{ 13a^2 }\)
• \(\large{ 13a^2+7x }\)
• \(\large{ -13a^2+7x }\)
• \(\large{ -13a^2+\frac{7}{9}x }\)
• \(\large{ \frac{a}{7} }\)
• \(\large{ \frac{13a}{7} }\)
• \(\large{ \sqrt{13} }\)

These are not polynomials:

• \(\large{ 13a^{-2} }\) , no negative exponents
• \(\large{ \frac {7}{13a^2 - 5} }\) , no dividing by variables
• \(\large{ \sqrt{a} }\)
• \(\large{ \frac{1}{a} }\)