MATHEMATICS 7

Module 1 Lesson 2

Polynomials

Pre-requisite Concepts: Constants, Variables, Algebraic expressions

Objectives:
1. Give examples of polynomials, monomials, binomials and trinomials;
2. Identify the base, coefficient, terms and exponent

A polynomial is a kind of algebraic expression where each term is a constant, a variable or a product of a
constant and variable in which the variable has a whole number (non-negative number) exponent. A
polynomial can be a monomial, binomial, trinomial or a multinomial.

An algebraic expression is NOT a polynomial if

1) the exponent of the variable is NOT a whole number {0, 1, 2, 3..}.
2) the variable is inside the radical sign.
3) the variable is in the denominator.

Kinds of Polynomial according to the number of terms

1) Monomial – is a polynomial with only one term
2) Binomial – is polynomial with two terms
 3) Trinomial – is a polynomial with three terms
4) Polynomial – is a polynomial with four or more terms

Activity 1
Tell whether the given expression is a polynomial or not. If it is a polynomial, determine its degree and
tell its kind according to the number of terms. If it is NOT, explain why.

Kinds of Polynomial according to its degree

1) Constant – a polynomial of degree zero
2) Linear – a polynomial of degree one
3) Quadratic – a polynomial of degree two
4) Cubic – a polynomial of degree three
5) Quartic – a polynomial of degree four
6) Quintic – a polynomial of degree five

* The next degrees have no universal name yet so they are just called “polynomial of degree ____.”

A polynomial is in Standard Form if its terms are arranged from the term with the highest degree, up to
the term with the lowest degree.

If the polynomial is in standard form the first term is called the Leading Term, the numerical coefficient
of the leading term is called the Leading Coefficient and the exponent or the sum of the exponents of
the variable in the leading term the Degree of the polynomial.

The standard form of

The terms -5x5 is the leading term, -5 is its leading coefficient and 5 is its degree. It is a quintic
polynomial because its degree is 5.

Activity 2
Complete the table:
KIND OF KIND OF
POLYNOMIAL POLYNOMIAL
GIVEN LEADING LEADING DEGREE ACCORDING ACCORDING STANDARD
TERM COEFFICIENT TO THE TO THE FORM
NUMBER OF DEGREE
TERMS
1) 2x + 7
 2) 3 – 4x +
7x2
3) 10
4) x4 – 5x3 +
2x – x2 – 1
5) 5x5 + 3x3 –
x
6) 3 – 8x
7) x2 – 9
8) 13 – 2x +
x5
9) 100x3
10) 2x3 – 4x2
+ 3x8 – 6

Summary
In this lesson, you learned about the terminologies in polynomials: term, coefficient, degree,
similar terms, polynomial, standard form, leading term, leading coefficient.