➕ Many-term algebraic 🔢 Sum of terms

multinomial

8.9

An algebra expression with several terms made of numbers and variables

noun
/ˌmʌltɪˈnoʊmiəl/

Specialized

: multinomial

In algebra, a multinomial can be expressed as a sum of terms like 3x^2 + 5xy + 7.

Examples

Here you'll have some multinomial that's also sum over sum over how many of each we take.
We have already found what that number is and it is this particular multinomial coefficient.
The polynomial equation included a multinomial with coefficients for various variables.
When factoring the multinomial, we found common terms in each part of the expression.

Synonyms

polynomial

vsmultinomial

Specialized

1 7.9

An expression made of numbers multiplied by letters raised to whole number powers and added together

is the form allowing products of many variables in each term

How Many Terms

multinomial

Specialized

8.9

binomial

Specialized

1 7.6

monomial

Specialized

7.7

Surface Forms

multinomial singular

multinomials plural

Morphology

multinomial = multi + nomial

The prefix multi- clearly contributes the idea of 'many,' but the bound stem -nomial is a specialized mathematical form that is not transparent to an average learner.

Etymology

Multinomial comes from the parts multi- meaning 'many' and -nomial from a word for 'name' that math uses for a 'term'. So, as a noun, a multinomial is a math expression made of 'many terms', several separate parts added together.