Monic Polynomial - Univariate Polynomials

Univariate Polynomials

If a polynomial has only one variable (univariate polynomial), then the terms are usually written either from highest degree to lowest degree ("descending powers") or from lowest degree to highest degree ("ascending powers"). A univariate polynomial in x of degree n then takes the general form displayed above, where

c_n ≠ 0, c_n−1, ..., c₂, c₁ and c₀

are constants, the coefficients of the polynomial.

Here the term c_nxn is called the leading term, and its coefficient c_n the leading coefficient; if the leading coefficient is 1, the univariate polynomial is called monic.