polynomial
UK[ˌpɒl.ɪˈnəʊ.mi.əl]US[ˌpɑː.lɪˈnoʊ.mi.əl]
adj
Consisting of several terms, especially in mathematics where it is an expression of more than two algebraic terms.
n
A mathematical expression consisting of variables and coefficients, involving only the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and non-negative integer exponentiation of variables.
Morpheme Breakdown
poly
nom
ial
poly
many
nom
name, term
ial
adjective suffix
Etymology
The word 'polynomial' is a modern mathematical term constructed from classical Greek elements. It combines 'poly-', meaning "many", with '-nom', derived from 'nomos' (law, custom, name), which in mathematical context came to signify a "term" or a named component of an expression. The adjectival suffix '-ial' was appended, likely via Latin influence, to form a word meaning "pertaining to many terms". This construction logically reflects the word's core meaning: an expression composed of multiple algebraic terms, each a distinct, named entity governed by the laws of arithmetic.
Analysis
Structure: poly (many) + nom (name, term) + ial (adjective suffix)
- poly: From Greek polys, meaning "many, much". A combining form indicating multiplicity.
- nom: From Greek nomos, meaning "law, custom" and by extension "name, term". In mathematics, it refers to a designated term or component.
- ial: A suffix of Latin origin (-ialis) used to form adjectives meaning "of or pertaining to".
Examples
The behavior of the system is modeled by a complex polynomial equation.
In algebra, students learn to factor quadratic polynomials.
The polynomial function's graph displayed several turning points.