2 If f(x) = C n X n + C n-1 X n-1 + … + C 3 X 3 + C 2 X 2 + C 1 X + C , where C n , C n-1 , ,… C 3 , C 2 , C 1 , C are constants and C n 0 and n is a non-negative integer then f(x) is called a polynomial function of degree n . A linear function is a polynomial function of degree 1. A quadratic function is a polynomial function of degree 2. A cubic function is a polynomial function of degree 3. The degree of a polynomial function is the degree of the term with the highest degree.
6 Polynomial Functions Degree Leading Term F(x) = x 3 – 2x + 5 3 x 3 F(x) = x 2 y – 3x – 1 3 x 2 y F(x) = 2x 4 – x 5 + 3 5 x 5 F(x) = 7 – 2x – x 6 6 x 6 F(x) = x 3 y 2 + 2 7 5 x 3 y 2