binomial

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablemathematics

   In algebra, an expression made of exactly two terms joined by a plus or minus sign, such as x + 3.

   Grammar: A countable noun: one binomial, several binomials.

   Patterns

   • expand a binomial
   • square a binomial

   The expression x + 5 is a binomial because it has two terms.

   The teacher asked us to multiply two binomials together.

   Factoring turns a quadratic into a product of binomials.

2. 2adjectivebefore a nounbiology

   Made up of two names or terms, especially in the scientific naming of species by genus and species.

   Grammar: Comes before a noun: binomial nomenclature, a binomial name.

   Patterns

   • binomial name
   • binomial nomenclature

   Homo sapiens is the binomial name for humans.

   Linnaeus popularized binomial nomenclature in the eighteenth century.

   Each binomial name starts with a capitalized genus.

3. 3adjectivebefore a nounmathematics

   In statistics, describing a distribution or experiment with only two possible outcomes, repeated a set number of times.

   Grammar: Used before a noun such as distribution or trial.

   Patterns

   • binomial distribution
   • binomial test

   Flipping a coin ten times follows a binomial distribution.

   The analyst used a binomial test on the survey results.

   A binomial trial ends in success or failure.

Word forms

Common combinations

binomial theorem

The binomial theorem gives a shortcut for expanding (x + y) to a high power.

binomial distribution

The binomial distribution describes how many heads you get in twenty flips.

binomial nomenclature

Binomial nomenclature gives every species a two-part Latin name.

binomial expansion

The binomial expansion of (a + b) cubed has four terms.

binomial name

The binomial name of the house cat is Felis catus.

Synonyms and how they differ

two-term expression

This plain phrase explains what a binomial is, but binomial is the compact term used in algebra classes.

dual

Dual means made of two parts in general, whereas binomial is specific to algebra, statistics or naming.

Opposites

Word family

monomial noun

an algebraic expression with a single term

polynomial noun

an expression with several terms

trinomial noun

an expression with three terms

nomial adjective

relating to a name or term, rarely used on its own

Commonly confused: binomial or polynomial? binomial or bimodal?

Practice

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