The degree of a polynomial in is the highest exponent occuring on when you write the polynomial out as a sum of non-zero constants times powers of (with like terms collected).

How the outputs of a function change as we look at input values further and further from 0.

This function shows different end behavior in the positive and negative directions. In the positive direction the values get larger and larger. In the negative direction the values get closer and closer to -3.

The power to which a factor occurs in the factored form of a polynomial. For example, in the polynomial , the factor has multiplicity 2 and the factor has multiplicity 1.

A polynomial function of   is a function given by a sum of terms, each of which is a constant times a whole-number power of . The word “polynomial” is used to refer both to the function and to the expression defining it.

A point on the graph of a function that is higher than any of the points around it.

A point on the graph of a function that is lower than any of the points around it.