It's Math Time: Polynomial Multiplication & Division - Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on multiplying and dividing polynomials.

Monomial

A polynomial consisting of a single term (a constant times one or more variables with nonnegative integer exponents).

Binomial

A polynomial with exactly two terms, joined by addition or subtraction (e.g., x + 8).

Multinomial

A polynomial with three or more terms.

Polynomial

An expression made by summing monomials.

Distributive Property

a(b + c) = ab + ac; used to multiply a term across a sum.

Monomial × Binomial

Multiplying a monomial by a binomial by distributing the monomial to each term of the binomial.

FOIL Method

First, Outer, Inner, Last — a technique to multiply two binomials.

First/Outer/Inner/Last

Parts of FOIL representing the products of the respective terms.

Vertical Method

A way to multiply polynomials by writing terms in columns and adding partial products.

Exponent Rule (Product of Like Bases)

When multiplying powers with the same base, add exponents: x^m · x^n = x^{m+n}.

Like Terms

Terms with exactly the same variable part (same variables and exponents) that can be combined.

Combine Like Terms

Add or subtract coefficients of like terms to simplify.

Dividend

The polynomial being divided in a division operation.

Divisor

The monomial or polynomial by which the dividend is divided.

Quotient

The result of division of polynomials.

Monomial × Polynomial (Expansion)

Expanding a monomial times a polynomial by distributing across all terms.

Distribute

To apply the distributive property by multiplying a term across a sum.

Product

The result of multiplying two or more quantities.

Exponent

A number that indicates how many times a base is used as a factor in a monomial.

Coefficient

The numerical factor multiplying the variables in a term.