polynomial

American  

[pol-uh-noh-mee-uhl] / ˌpɒl əˈnoʊ mi əl /

adjective

1. consisting of or characterized by two or more names or terms.

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noun

1. Algebra.

   1. (in one variable) an expression consisting of the sum of two or more terms each of which is the product of a constant and a variable raised to an integral power: ax 2 + bx + c is a polynomial, where a, b, and c are constants and x is a variable.

   2. a similar expression in more than one variable, as 4 x 2 y 3 − 3 xy + 5 x + 7.

   3. Also called multinomial.  Now Rare. any expression consisting of the sum of two or more terms, as 4 x 3 + cos x.

2. a polynomial name or term.

3. Biology. a species name containing more than two terms.

polynomial British  

/ ˌpɒlɪˈnəʊmɪəl /

adjective

1. of, consisting of, or referring to two or more names or terms

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noun

1. 1. a mathematical expression consisting of a sum of terms each of which is the product of a constant and one or more variables raised to a positive or zero integral power. For one variable, x , the general form is given by: a 0 xn + a 1 xn ^–1 + … + an –1 x + an , where a 0 , a 1 , etc, are real numbers

   2. Also called: multinomial.  any mathematical expression consisting of the sum of a number of terms

2. biology a taxonomic name consisting of more than two terms, such as Parus major minor in which minor designates the subspecies

polynomial Scientific  

/ pŏl′ē-nō′mē-əl /

1. An algebraic expression that is the sum of two or more monomials. The expressions x ² − 4 and 5 x ⁴ + 2 x ³ − x + 7 are both polynomials.

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Etymology

Origin of polynomial

First recorded in 1665–75; poly- + (bi)nomial

Example Sentences

Back in class, the students fielded Howland’s questions about polynomial functions.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 25, 2023

But ∛2 belongs to the algebraic numbers, which can be written as solution of a polynomial equation.

From Scientific American • May 23, 2023

He says some of the published data presented by Dias and Salamat could be represented by a smooth polynomial curve—impossible for noisy laboratory measurements.

From Science Magazine • Sep. 26, 2022

If the expression is a polynomial, identify it as a monomial, binomial, trinomial, or other polynomial, and then find the degree of each polynomial.

From Textbooks • Sep. 23, 2020

Lines represent polynomial regressions of evaporative water loss on chamber air temperature.

From Metabolic Adaptation to Climate and Distribution of the Raccoon Procyon Lotor and Other Procyonidae by Mahlke-Johnson, Kathleen P.