Polynomial Functions

Polynomial Vocabulary

100

What is the term for the highest exponent in a polynomial?

Degree

200

What do you call a number in front of a variable?

coefficient 

300

What is a polynomial with only one term called?

Monomial

400

What is the term for the x-values that make the polynomial equal zero?

Zeros or Roots

500

What is the standard form of a polynomial?

Terms written in order from highest to lowest degree

Degree Identification

100

What is the degree of the polynomial 3x⁴ + 2x² – 7?

4

200

What is the degree of x² – 7x + 1?

2

300

What is the degree of –5x⁶ + 3x⁴ – x² + 9?

6

400

What is the degree of 8x – 12?

1

500

What is the degree of the polynomial 7?

0 (constant)

Adding/Subtracting Polynomials

100

Simplify: (2x² + 3x) + (x² – 5x)

3x² – 2x

200

(3x³ – x² + 4) – (x³ + x² – 1)

2x³ – 2x² + 5

300

(5x² – 3x + 1) + (–x² + 2x – 4)

4x² – x – 3

400

(x⁴ + 2x²) – (x⁴ – x²)

3x²

500

(4x³ + 3x – 5) – (2x³ – x + 7)

2x³ + 4x – 12

Multiplying Polynomials

100

Multiply: (x + 2)(x – 3)

x² – x – 6

200

(x + 1)(x + 1)

x² + 2x + 1

300

(2x)(3x² – x + 5)

6x³ – 2x² + 10x

400

(x – 4)(x² + 2x + 1)

x³ – 2x² – 7x – 4

Factoring Polynomials

100

Factor: x² – 9

(x – 3)(x + 3)

200

Factor: x² + 5x + 6

(x + 2)(x + 3)

300

Factor: x² – x – 6

(x – 3)(x + 2)

400

Factor: x² – 4x

x(x – 4)