What is the Difference Between Polynomial and Monomial?

The main difference between a polynomial and a monomial lies in the number of terms they contain. Here is a summary of their key differences:

Monomial:

• A monomial is an algebraic expression containing only one term.
• Monomials can include numbers, whole numbers, variables, and variables multiplied together.
• A monomial cannot have fractional or negative exponents.
• Examples of monomials include 6xy³ or 5x.

Polynomial:

• A polynomial is an algebraic expression that represents the sum of one or more monomials.
• Polynomials can contain multiple terms, each called a "term" or "monomial".
• A polynomial has non-negative integral exponents of variables.
• Examples of polynomial expressions include 7a² + 18a and -2x⁵ + 17x³ - 9x.

In summary, a monomial contains only one term, while a polynomial is a sum of multiple terms, called monomials.

Comparative Table: Polynomial vs Monomial

The main difference between a polynomial and a monomial lies in the number of terms they contain. A polynomial is a mathematical expression that contains two or more terms, while a monomial is a single-term expression. Here is a comparison table highlighting the differences between polynomials and monomials:

In summary, polynomials are mathematical expressions with two or more terms, while monomials are single-term expressions. Monomials are also considered a type of polynomial, but not all polynomials are monomials.