Question Video: Types of Polynomials according to the Number of Terms Mathematics

Video Transcript

Which of the below correctly describes the expression seven 𝑎 to the fourth power 𝑏? A) A binomial, B) a monomial, or C) a trinomial.

A monomial has one algebraic term, such as five 𝑥 squared 𝑦. A binomial has two algebraic terms, such as five 𝑥 squared 𝑦 plus 𝑦 cubed 𝑏. And a trinomial has three algebraic terms, such as five 𝑥 squared 𝑦 plus 𝑦 cubed 𝑏 minus 𝑝.

Mono means one, bi means two, and tri means three. That’s how we know how many algebraic terms there are. So again, the monomial has one term, the binomial has two terms separated by a plus or a minus sign, and a trinomial has three terms separated by plus or minus signs.

So our expression seven 𝑎 to the fourth power 𝑏 would be monomial. There’s only one algebraic term. There’s no plus or minus signs with other terms. So monomial will be our final answer.