Introductory Algebra Glossary

1
Introductory Algebra Glossary

• Unit Four

2
polynomial

• A term or a finite sum of terms in which all
  coefficients are real, all variables have whole
  number exponents, and no variables appear in
  denominators.

3
descending powers

• A polynomial in one variable is written in
  descending powers of the variable if the
  exponents on the terms of the polynomial decrease
  from left to right.

4
degree of a term

• The sum of the exponents on the variables in the
  term.

5
degree of a polynomial

• The greatest degree of any of the terms in the
  polynomial.

6
trinomial

• A polynomial with exactly three terms.

7
binomial

• A polynomial with two terms.

8
monomial

• A polynomial with only one term.

9
parabola

• The graph of a second-degree (quadratic) equation
  in two variables is called a parabola.

10
vertex

• The point on a parabola that has the smallest
  y-value (if the parabola opens upward) or the
  largest y-value (if the parabola opens downward).

11
axis of a parabola (axis of symmetry)

• The vertical or horizontal line through the
  vertex.

12
line of symmetry

• The axis of a parabola is a line of symmetry for
  the graph. It is a line that can be drawn through
  the graph in such a way that the part of the
  graph on one side of the line is an exact
  reflection of the part on the opposite side.

13
outer product

• When multiplying two binomials (A B)(C D)
• the outer product is AD.

14
inner product

• When using the FOIL method to multiply two
  binomials
• (A B)(C D)
• the inner product is BC.

15
FOIL

• FOIL is a method for multiplying two binomials (A
  B)(C D).
• Multiply First terms AC, Outer terms AD, Inner
  terms BC, and Last terms BD.
• Then combine like terms.

16
scientific notation

• A number expressed in the form
• a x 10n, where 1 a lt 10 and n is an integer.

17
Return to Introductory Algebra

• Created by
• James Q. Jacobs