polynomial

[ pol-uh-noh-mee-uhl ]

adjective

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

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. Now Rare. Also called multinomial. 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

/ ˌpɒlɪˈnəʊmɪəl /

adjective

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

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 calledmultinomial 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

/ 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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of polynomial¹

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

Example Sentences

Of course, the polynomial at issue in the proof is much more complicated than that.

From Quanta Magazine

To solve those in a similar way, Wolfson thought, you could replace that cubic surface with some higher-dimensional “hypersurface” formed by those higher-degree polynomials in many variables.

From Quanta Magazine

In July, three computer scientists used a mathematical discipline called the geometry of polynomials to show that a modern algorithm is guaranteed to be at least infinitesimally more efficient than the long-standing best method.

From Quanta Magazine

The only multilinear maps researchers knew how to build securely were those that computed polynomials of degree 2 or less.

From Quanta Magazine

A second-order polynomial adds a term with x squared, third-order with x cubed, and so on.

From Science News

The two dots at the end are frequently omitted when the part affected includes all the terms of the polynomial to the end.

From Project Gutenberg

It was natural to inquire whether a similar theorem holds for integrals ∫R(s, z)dz wherein s is a cubic polynomial in z.

From Project Gutenberg

The last case arises when we consider the finite values of z for which the polynomial coefficient of sn vanishes.

From Project Gutenberg

But the polynomial method as a system was of short duration.

From Project Gutenberg

This polynomial expression was shortened by Linnæus to Zeus faber.

From Project Gutenberg