Asymptote  -  A line that a function approaches but never intersects.

Axis  -  The line of symmetry of a parabola.

Constant Function  -  A polynomial function of degree zero in which the constant term ≠ 0.

Constant Term  -  The coefficient of x⁰ in a polynomial.

Degree  -  The value of n in a polynomial f (x) = a_nxⁿ + a_n-1x^n-1 + ^... + a₁x + a₀, where a_n≠ 0. If f (x) = 0, then the degree is undefined.

Descartes' Rule of Signs  -  Descartes' Rule of Signs states that the number of positive real roots is less than or equal to the number of variations in the function f (x). It also states that the number of negative real roots is less than or equal to the number of variations in the function f (- x).

Leading Coefficient  -  The value of a_n in a polynomial f (x) = a_nxⁿ + a_n-1x^n-1 + ^... + a₁x + a₀, where a_n≠ 0 unless f (x) = 0.

Linear Function  -  A first-degree polynomial.

Multiplicity  -  If (x - c)ⁿ is a factor of a polynomial but (x - c)ⁿ⁺¹ is not, the root c is said to be a root of multiplicity n.

Parabola  -  Another name for the graph of a quadratic function.

Polynomial  -  An expression of one variable of the form a_nxⁿ + a_n-1x^n-1 + ^... + a₂x² + a₁x + a₀, where a_n, a_n-1,..., a₁, a₀ are real numbers, n is a nonnegative integer, and a_n≠ 0.

Polynomial Function  -  A function that is defined by a polynomial; it is of the form f (x) = a_nxⁿ + a_n-1x^n-1 + ^... + a₂x² + a₁x + a₀, where a_n, a_n-1,…, a₁, a₀ are real numbers, n is a nonnegative integer, and a_n≠ 0.

Quadratic Function  -  A second-degree polynomial.

Rational Function  -  A function which can be expressed as the quotient of two polynomial functions.

Rational Root Theorem  -  The Rational Root Theorem is a useful tool in finding the roots of a polynomial function f (x) = a_nxⁿ + a_n-1x^n-1 + ... + a₂x² + a₁x + a₀. If the coefficients of a polynomial are all integers, and a root of the polynomial is rational (it can be expressed as a fraction in lowest terms), the Rational Root Theorem states that the numerator of the root is a factor of a₀ and the denominator of the root is a factor of a_n.

Root  -  Values of the independent variable for which a polynomial function equals zero.

Variation  -  Consecutive terms of a polynomial whose coefficients have opposite signs.

Vertex  -  The point on a parabola at which the quadratic function reaches its minimum or maximum value.

Zero Polynomial  -  The polynomial f (x) = 0.