Monomial: one term; a number or product of numbers and variables with whole number exponents.
Degree of a Monomial: the sum of the exponents of the variables
Classifying Polynomials
Leading coefficient: the coefficient (number) of the first term (first number in expression/equation)
Standard form: terms are in order from the greatest degree (exponent) to the smallest degree (exponent)
Degree of a polynomial: given by the term with the greatest exponent/degree
Classify by number of terms
Monomial = 1 term
Binomial = 2 terms
Trinomial = 3 terms
For four or more terms the expression is referred to as a "polynomial of (insert number of terms) terms"
Adding and Subtracting Polynomials
If adding, no sign changes are needed. Combine all like terms.
If subtracting, the signs of the terms in the second express will change to the opposite (add to subtract or subtraction to addition). Then you will be able to combine all like terms.