Polynomial functions are algebraic expressions with positive whole number exponents. They can be written in standard form with all terms multiplied out, or factored form with parentheses. The degree is the highest power of x, and the leading coefficient is the first term when written in standard order from highest to lowest exponent. The x-intercepts of a polynomial graph are the same as the zeros of the function, and the number of intercepts is equal to or less than the number of factors, never more. Higher degree polynomials have that many sets of parentheses in factored form.
