Terminology

Definition

Examples

It is a symbols or letters that can

Variable

assume different values or quantity.

a, b, c, x, y, z, ,
= 3.14...,
= 1.61803...,

Constant

It is a symbol for fixed value.

e = 2.718281828459...,
g = 9.81 m/s2

x;

5
2

Algebraic
Expression

It is an expression which consists of

numbers and variable related to
fundamental operations in algebra.

7 a b ; 3 x + y ;
2 x +9
;
3 x2
7 + xy

It is a part of an algebraic
expression included between two
Term

consecutive positive and negative

signs.

3 x;

5 x7 +3 y ;
x 3+3 x +2

Any factor of a product in the

Coefficients

algebraic term which is either

5 and x in the term 5x

numerical or literal.

Literal coefficients

Any variable or letter factor in the

algebraic term.

Numerical

Any number or constant factor in

coefficients

the algebraic term.

Similar or like
terms

Terms having the same literal

x and y in the expression

5 x7 +3 y

5 and 3 in the expression

5 x7 +3 y

3x3 and 2x3;

7

coefficients or variables to the same

power or exponent

6x3y2z, x3y2z, and

x3y2z,

14;
Monomial

Algebraic expression containing

only one term

a b5d;
3x3;
7y4;
5xy4z;
12 5 2

Binomial

Trinomial

Algebraic expression containing

only two terms

3x3 2z4;
3 5 + 9 2;

7 +6 xy

Algebraic expression containing

only three terms

2v2 + 4x3 2z4;

3 5 + 9 2 1 ;

2z

7 +6 xy
7 +6 xy ;

3a5 2z4
Multinomial

Algebraic expression containing

more than three terms

7 3 + 9 2

+75 3 3 ;

x4 + 4x3 + 14x2 + 1;
ax5 + 4bx3 + 14x2y2z2 + 1

Algebraic expression containing

Polynomial

one or more terms where the

3x3 2z4;

coefficients are all real numbers,

3 5 + 9 2;

the exponents are all natural

numbers, and the operations on
literal coefficients do not include

7a5 10z6

7 ;

11 3 + 9x 2

division or fraction.
2 is the degree for the expression x2;
Degree of a term

It is the sum of exponents of the

0 is the degree for the expression 8;

variables in the given term.

3 is the degree for the expression 9x 2

4 is the degree of the polynomial 3x3 2z4;
5 is the degree of the polynomial 3 5 + 9 2;

Degree of a
polynomial

The highest sum of the exponent of

6 is the degree of the polynomial 7a5 10z6

the variable in the term of the given

7 ;

polynomial.

7 is the degree of the polynomial 11 3 + 9 3 4