Understanding Monomials and Polynomials
This page introduces the fundamental concepts of monomials and polynomials, essential components of algebraic expressions. It provides definitions, examples, and key properties to help students grasp these important mathematical structures.
Definition: A monomial of degree n (where n is a non-negative integer) in one real variable x is an expression that can be written in the form a·x^n, where a is a fixed real number not equal to zero.
Definition: A polynomial of degree n (where n is a positive integer) in one real variable x is an expression that can be written in the form: a_n·x^n + a_(n-1)·x^(n-1) + ... + a_1·x + a_0, where a_n, a_(n-1), ..., a_1, a_0 are real numbers called the coefficients of the polynomial.
The page provides several examples to illustrate these concepts:
Example: N(x) = 3x² - 2x⁵ + 4 is a polynomial with degree 5.
Example: F(x) = -12x⁸ is a polynomial (and also a monomial) with degree 8.
Highlight: The degree of a polynomial is determined by the highest power of its variable term with a non-zero coefficient.
The text also mentions some important properties and special cases:
- The zero polynomial does not have a degree.
- The sum of all coefficients of a polynomial W(x) is equal to W(1).
- Constant polynomials (polynomials of degree 0) are discussed.
Vocabulary: Współczynniki wielomianu (polynomial coefficients) are the numerical factors that multiply each power of the variable in a polynomial.
The page concludes with exercises that help reinforce the understanding of polynomial degrees and coefficients, including examples with parameters and special cases like √x + 8 = x + 8^(1/2).
