DEGREE OF A POLYNOMIAL

 

 

 

To find the degree of a polynomial, just find and count the biggest exponents. The green polynomial below is a 3rd degree polynomial because the biggest power is a cube. The purple polynomial below has a degree of 10 since 8+2=10 and that's the biggest one. 

 

 

                             

 

 

 

 

 

polynomial- a collection of terms where each has the form and i is a whole number {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...}

Example:

 

 

 

 

polynomial function- A function which is a collection of terms where each has the form and i is a whole number {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...}.

Example:

 

 

 

 

degree of a polynomial- the highest whole number used as an exponent

 

 

 

 

leading coefficient- the numerical factor (coefficient, multiplier) of the term with the highest degree used in the polynomial

 

 

 

 

constant term- the term not involving the variable with its sign

 

 

 

 

quadratic, cubic, quartic- degree 2, 3 or 4

 

 

 

 

n^th degree- degree n polynomial for n a whole number

 

 

 

 

mono, bi, trinomial- one, two, three terms

 

 

 

 

turning point- a local maximum or minimum where the graph of the functions changes from increasing to decreasing or vice versa

 

 

 

 

x-intercepts, real roots or real zeros- interchangeable terms for the location(s) where a graph crosses the x-axis

 

For more information click here.