How do you determine if (5y^2)/x^2+4x is a polynomial and if so, how do you identify if it is a monomial, binomial, or trinomial?

1 Answer
Nov 20, 2017

The expression is a polynomial with two terms.
That makes it a binomial.

Polynomials are algebraic expressions made up of one or more terms, which are addends.
The number of terms defines the name of the polynomial.

Explanation:

Polynomials are algebraic expressions made up of more than one "term."

A "term" is a cluster of numbers and letters that are connected to each other by multiplication and division.

These are all "terms"
x

3y

7m xx 22

(4x - 2)^2 -: 3(6x - 13)^6
.........................

Terms are separated from each other by addition or subtraction.
Here are expressions with two terms:
a + 3

45x^2 - m^3

(4x - 2)^2 -: 3(6x - 13)^6 + (a + x) (a - x)

larr------ one term ----- rarr + larranotherrarr
.........................

You can tell if an expression is a monomial, a binomial, a trinomial, or a polynomial by counting the terms.

We give expressions with 1, 2, or 3 terms special names, but after that we stop counting and just say "polynomial."

Specific kinds of polynomials are called:

a monomial if it has exactly 1 term
3s^3

a binomial if it has exactly 2 terms
2x + 3

a trinomial if it has exactly 3 terms
x^2 + 6x + 9
1 . . . . .2 . . . 3 larr (the number of terms is 3)

a polynomial if it has more than 3 terms
(But expressions with 1, 2, or 3 terms are also still called polynomials.)

m larr monomial or polynomial

x - 3 larr binomial or polynomial

6y^3 - 9y^2 + 3y larr trinomial or polynomial

8m^3 + 3m^2 - 7m + 3 larr polynomial
. 1 . . . . . .2 . . . . . 3 . . . .4 larr (the number of terms is 4)

Here is more information about terms and polynomials
https://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/polynomials.html