[Milan]

Can someone just explain some basics of polynomial functions by using basic terms...Christ, I'm dying in this class and it's the second day of school.

I don't understand what this means, I know it's like the general term for a polynomial function but can someone explain it to me?



What's the subscript n mean? Why does the pattern change from n-1, n-2, etc..to a2x2...I don't get this at all.

[event_staff_9]

Originally Posted by Milan

Can someone just explain some basics of polynomial functions by using basic terms...Christ, I'm dying in this class and it's the second day of school.

I don't understand what this means, I know it's like the general term for a polynomial function but can someone explain it to me?

lol, funny how you should mention this; im currently in the middle of a debate with the whole math department of my school regarding whether rational functions can have an infinite number of discontinuities

anyway, id be happy to explain it to you

anytime you see an a, it is a coefficient. it can be 2, 4, 1/2, 8675309, -32452 , whatever. the subscript on those are just to denote that the coefficients can be different

next, n denotes the degree of the highest polynomial. if the highest degree of the polynomial is 3, x^n = x^3

therefore, using the example i just used we have x^3 + x^2 + x^1 + x^0

notice how n-1 = 2, n-2 = 1

sometimes if the coefficient (a) is 0, a degree may be left out

ie. x^6 + x^4 + 56(x^3) + x^2 - 3

in short a polynomial always starts from a degree, n and each suceeding term's degree is n-1, n-2, etc as you go down the list

i hope this explanation made sense!

[Milan]

I'm kind of understanding it but maybe I need some refreshing on the terms.

A coefficient is a constant number right?
A degree is...uh, is it the exponent?

I don't understand this part:

n denotes the degree of the highest polynomial. if the highest degree of the polynomial is 3, x^n = x^3

What do you mean by this:

notice how n-1 = 2, n-2 = 1

Here you wrote this:

sometimes if the coefficient (a) is 0, a degree may be left out

ie. x^6 + x^4 + 56(x^3) + x^2 - 3

I don't see anywhere where the coefficient is 0...

Sorry for so many questions, as you can see, I'm pretty lost.

[event_staff_9]

Originally Posted by Milan

I'm kind of understanding it but maybe I need some refreshing on the terms.

A coefficient is a constant number right?
A degree is...uh, is it the exponent?

Sorry for so many questions, as you can see, I'm pretty lost.

no problem, ill try to make it clearer

right, coefficient is a constant number, degree is the exponent

x^n is the first term of a polynomial. n is the highest value exponent of the polynomial. for instance if x = 3, there can not a x^4 in the polynomial.

lets say the first term is x^6

according to the formula, the next term should be a(x^(n-1)). n-1 = 5. so the next one should be a(x^5) the next one, a(x^4) etc

ie. x^6 + x^4 + 56(x^3) + x^2 - 3

there is a coefficient of 0 where x^5, x^1 b/c there is no value at those degrees of exponents

[Milan]

Alright. Thanks a lot, I'm getting that now, one more if it's not a problem:

Why is y(f)=cosx not a polynomial function? I figured it's because a=cos in this case and a has to be a constant independent variable, where cos is never constant and it's dependent on x...can you tell me if I'm on the right track?

[event_staff_9]

Originally Posted by Milan

Alright. Thanks a lot, I'm getting that now, one more if it's not a problem:

Why is y(f)=cosx not a polynomial function? I figured it's because a=cos in this case and a has to be a constant independent variable, where cos is never constant and it's dependent on x...can you tell me if I'm on the right track?

no problem!!! my pleasure!

cos(x) is a trignometric function -- yes, you're on the right track :) cos isnt a coefficient

[DeAdLyPoTaTo]

I'm gonna sound dumb asking this but, can somebody dumb down "significant numbers" for me?

[event_staff_9]

Originally Posted by DeAdLyPoTaTo

I'm gonna sound dumb asking this but, can somebody dumb down "significant numbers" for me?

significant digits? do you still need clarification? that will determine how much i rush to write the rules out for ya

[DeAdLyPoTaTo]

Originally Posted by event_staff_9

significant digits? do you still need clarification? that will determine how much i rush to write the rules out for ya

I'm just freaking lost, scratching my head and sh!t

like, my teacher keeps recycling the same way of teaching it to me and I'm not getting it. It's simple too but I can't help but wear my helment

dumb it down for me please
pretend you were teaching a retard

[event_staff_9]

Originally Posted by DeAdLyPoTaTo

I'm just freaking lost, scratching my head and sh!t

like, my teacher keeps recycling the same way of teaching it to me and I'm not getting it. It's simple too but I can't help but wear my helment

dumb it down for me please
pretend you were teaching a retard

alright, ill do it when i get home today! check back tonight