A polynomial is a sum of one or more terms called monomials. If we think of each monomial as a separate function, then a polynomial function can be thought of as a sum of these monomial functions. In previous lectures we have studied...

A graph in Cartesian coordinates may represent a function or may only represent a binary relation. The "vertical line test" is a simple way to determine whether or not a graph represents a function.

Equations of the form y = mx describe lines in the Cartesian plane which pass through the origin. The fact that many functions are linear when viewed on a small scale, is important in branches of mathematics such as calculus.