Meaning & use
trinomial
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountablemathematics
an algebraic expression with three terms joined by plus or minus signs
Grammar: Countable: you can say a trinomial or trinomials.
Patterns
- a trinomial
- trinomials
- factor a trinomial
The expression x² + 5x + 6 is a trinomial.
We learned how to factor trinomials in algebra class.
A trinomial has exactly three terms, like 2a + 3b - c.
nouncountablebiologytechnical
a scientific name for a species that has three parts, such as a genus, species, and subspecies
Grammar: Used in biology for names like Homo sapiens sapiens.
Patterns
- a trinomial
- trinomial name
The trinomial for the domestic dog is Canis lupus familiaris.
Scientists use a trinomial to name a subspecies.
Word forms
| plural | trinomials |
|---|
Common combinations
- factor a trinomial
- Can you factor this trinomial?
- perfect square trinomial
- A perfect square trinomial comes from squaring a binomial.
- trinomial expression
- Write the trinomial expression in standard form.
Synonyms and how they differ
- polynomial
- Polynomial is a broader term for any expression with one or more terms, not just three.
- binomial
- Binomial has exactly two terms, while a trinomial has three.
Word family
- binomial noun
- an expression with two terms
- polynomial noun
- an expression with one or more terms
Commonly confused: trinomial or trinomial?
trinomial vs trinomial
Not to be confused with 'binomial' (two terms) or 'monomial' (one term).
Practice
Which of these is a trinomial?
Choose one answer.
A trinomial has three terms. x² + 4x + 4 has three terms, while 3x + 2 has two, 5x has one, and x² - 9 has two.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “trinomial”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.