Glossary (Version 8.4)

A polynomial in one variable $$x$$ is a finite sum of terms of the form $$ax^k$$, where $$a$$ is a real number and $$k$$ is a non-negative integer.

A non-zero polynomial can be written in the form $$a_0+a_1x+a_2x^2+\cdots+a_nx^n,$$, where $$n$$ is a non-negative integer and $$a_n\neq0$$.

The term that contains the variable $$x$$ raised to the highest power, that is $$a_nx^n$$, is called the leading term.

The numbers $$a_0,a_1,\dots,a_n$$ are called the coefficients of the terms. Coefficients include the preceding sign.

For example, in the polynomial $$3x^2-5x+2$$, the leading term is $$3x^2$$ and the coefficient of the second term is $$-5$$.