INTRODUCTION

TO
POLYNOMIALS
The coefficient is the number that multiplies the
variable. More plainly, it is the number in front of a
variable.

Numerical coefficient Literal coefficient

(number part) (letter part including
exponents)

2x 2 x

5mn 5 mn

10s 10 s
LEADING COEFFICIENT

10s + 4st - 7 The leading coefficient is 10

-5mn + 8 The leading coefficient is -5

9 + 6 - 12x The leading coefficient is 9

 9 - 4st + 7

Constant 7 Leading
9
Term
Variable/s s, t Leading
9
Coefficient
Numerical
coefficient/s
9, -4 Number of
Terms
3
Literal
coefficient/s
, st
 ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS
3
5𝑥 𝑎𝑏
𝑎 +𝑏 4 -3
3
𝑎− 𝑏 Polynomial
Polynomial
𝑦
+1
√ 5 𝑥𝑦 − 3 4

Polynomial 2 Polynomial
2
5𝑎
𝑎 −4 𝑏 𝑏
Polynomial
 POLYNOMIAL
NOT a Polynomial Polynomial
2 𝑎 +𝑏 5𝑎 3
𝑎− 𝑏 𝑎𝑏 5 𝑥 𝑎 2 − 4 𝑏 𝑦 √ 5 𝑥𝑦 − 3
𝑏 4 3 4
+1
-3
A POLYNOMIAL is a special kind of expression where each
term is a constant, variable or a product of constants and
variables. Thus, an algebraic expression is not a polynomial:

 when the variable is in the denominator

 when the exponent is not a whole number
 when the variable is under a radical sign
It is a constant, variable or a product of two
separated by plus or minus.
TERM

Number of Terms Leading Term

10s + 4st - 7 3 10s

-5mn + 8 2 -5mn

9 + 6 - 12x - 3 4 9
 CLASSIFICATION OF POLYNOMIALS
There are special names for polynomials according to the
number of terms:
A monomial has one(1) term.

9s 4x 6ab -7y 2

A binomial has two(2) terms.

5 + 3s 2y - 9 4x + 1
A trinomial has three(3) terms.

3x + 6xy - 2 -10

A multinomial has four or more terms.

-15 + 10 - 4mn + 11
 DEGREE OF A POLYNOMIAL
The degree of a polynomial with one variable is the value of the
largest exponent of the variable that appears in any term.

-2 Third (3rd) degree

-9 Fifth (5th) degree

 12 sixth (6th) degree

The degree of a polynomial with two or more

variables is the highest degree of a term with
nonzero coefficient.

7 seventh (7th) degree

 POLYNOMIAL IN DESCENDING ORDER
The polynomial is in descending order if the exponent of the
variable is arranged from largest to greatest.

10 + 10

𝟑 𝟐 𝟑 𝟑 𝟐 𝟑 𝟑 𝟑 𝟐 𝟐
𝟓 𝒙 𝒚 +12𝒙 𝒚 −𝟒 𝒙 𝒚 12 𝒙 𝒚 +𝟓𝒙 𝒚 −𝟒 𝒙 𝒚
-9 + 7 79
 TEST
YOURSELF
Write each polynomial in descending order: Find the
degree and decide whether it is a monomial,
binomial, trinomial or multinomial.
POLYNOMIAL DESCENDING ORDER DEGREE OF A CLASSIFICATION
POLYNOMIAL OF POLYNOMIAL

5 +5 3rd trinomial
3 5 2 5 3 2
5 𝑎 +8 − 𝑎 + 2 𝑎 − 𝑎 +5 𝑎 + 2 𝑎 +8 5th multinomial

3 3 2nd monomial

6 +6 6th binomial