Introduction to

Polynomials
Learning Targets
I will be able to:
Identifying Parts Of A Monomial
Classify polynomials by the number of
terms

Classify Polynomials By Degree

 IDENTIFYING PARTS OF A
MONOMIAL

Let’s try an example: Identify the coefficient, variable, and

exponent:
 WAYS TO CLASSIFY POLYNOMIALS
We can classify polynomials by the number of terms:
__________1 term Think about other words with the prefix mono:
monotone, monochromatic, monologue

__________ : 2 terms Think about other words with the prefix bi:
bicycle, bifocals, bimonthly

__________ : 3 terms Think about other words with the prefix tri:
tricycle, triathlon, triceratops

__________ : 4 or more terms Think about other words with

the prefix poly: polytheistic,
polygon

Polynomials
Let’s take a closer look at are fun!
classifying polynomials by number
of terms...
CLASSIFYING POLYNOMIALS BY
NUMBER OF TERMS
Monomial: a number, a variable, or the
product of a number and one or more variables.
We are also going to call this a ________.
Let’s check out some examples of monomials:

A monomial with no variables is called a ______________.

CLASSIFYING POLYNOMIALS BY
NUMBER OF TERMS
_______________: a polynomial with 2 terms
Let’s check out some examples of binomials:

_______________: a polynomial with 3 terms

Let’s check out some examples of trinomials:
CLASSIFYING POLYNOMIALS BY DEGREE
Finding the degree of a Monomial: _____________

_____________________________________
Example 1:

Example 2:

Finding the degree of a Polynomial: __________

________________________________________________________

Example 1:

Example 2:
A monomial is a number, a variable, or a product of
numbers and variables with whole-number exponents.

The degree of a monomial is the ______ of the

________ of the variables. A constant has __________.

Example 1: Finding the Degree of a Monomial

Find the degree of each monomial.

A. 4p4q3
Add the exponents of the
variables: 4 + 3 = 7.
B. 7ed

C. 3
 Check It Out! Example 1

Find the degree of each monomial.

a. 1.5k2m

b. 4x

b. 2c3
CLASSIFYING POLYNOMIALS BY DEGREE

Finding the degree of a Polynomial: The

same as that of its term with the greatest degree.

Example 1:

Example 2:
Some polynomials have special names based on their
degree and the number of terms they have.

Degree Name Terms Name

0 1

1 2

2 3
4 or Polynomial
3 more
4
5
6 or more
 Example 2: Finding the Degree of a Polynomial
And its name
Find the degree of each polynomial.
A. 11x7 + 3x3
11x7: degree 7 3x3: degree 3
Find the degree of
The degree of the polynomial is the each term.
greatest degree, 7, so it’s 7th.

B.

The degree of the polynomial is the

greatest degree, 4, so it’s quartic.
 Check It Out! Example 2
Find the degree and the name of each polynomial.
a. 5x – 6

b. x3y2 + x2y3 – x4 + 2
CLASSIFYING POLYNOMIALS BY DEGREE
Degree Name Example
NON-EXAMPLES OF POLYNOMIALS
The terms of a polynomial may be written in
any order. However, polynomials that
contain only one variable are usually written
in standard form.

The standard form of a _________ that

contains one variable is written with the
____________________from greatest
degree to least degree. When written in
standard form, the coefficient of the first
term is called the ___________________.
Example 3A: Writing Polynomials in Standard Form
Write the polynomial in standard form. Then
give the leading coefficient.
6x – 7x5 + 4x2 + 9
Find the degree of each term. Then arrange them in
descending order:
6x – 7x5 + 4x2 + 9 –7x5 + 4x2 + 6x + 9

Degree 1 5 2 0 5 2 1 0
Example 3B: Writing Polynomials in Standard Form
Write the polynomial in standard form. Then
give the leading coefficient.
y2 + y6 − 3y
 Check It Out! Example 3a

Write the polynomial in standard form. Give

the leading coefficient. Then name it by
degree and number of terms.

16 – 4x2 + x5 + 9x3
 Check It Out! Example 3b

Write the polynomial in standard form. Give

the leading coefficient. Then name it by
degree and number of terms.

18y5 – 3y8 + 14y

 Example 4: Classifying Polynomials

Classify each polynomial according to its

degree and number of terms.

A. 5n3 + 4n 5n3 + 4n is a cubic

Degree 3 Terms 2 binomial.

B. 4y6 – 5y3 + 2y – 9

C. –2x
Classify each polynomial according to its
degree and number of terms.

D. x3 + x2 – x + 2

E. 6

F. –3y8 + 18y5 + 14y

 Lesson Closing

Find the degree of each polynomial.

1. 7a3b2 – 2a4 + 4b – 15

2. 25x2 – 3x4

Write each polynomial in standard form. Then

give the leading coefficient.

3. 24g3 + 10 + 7g5 – g2

4. 14 – x4 + 3x2
 Lesson Closing: Part II

Classify each polynomial according to its

degree and number of terms.
5. 18x2 – 12x + 5

6. 2x4 – 1