Difference between revisions of "Polynomial"
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| − | f(x) = a_n x^n+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+...+a_1 x + a_0 | + | f(x) = a_n x^n+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+...+ a_2 x^2+a_1 x + a_0 |
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Revision as of 02:59, July 6, 2008
A polynomial in one variable 
is a function 
of the form:
In elementary mathematics, the coefficients 
are typically chosen to be real or complex numbers. However, it makes sense to define a polynomial with coefficients in any ring.
The largest power of that appears in the polynomial is called the degree of the polynomial.
- Example:
is a degree 3 polynomial with integer coefficients.
A polynomial in two variables 
is, similarly, a finite sum
,
where the coefficients 
are elements of some ring. Polynomials in 3 or more variables are defined similarly.
Some algorithms are said to perform in polynomial time. There are algorithms which can factor polynomials in polynomial time.[Citation Needed]
