多项式 (duō xiàng shì) — (mathematics) polynomial

Definition

A math term for 'polynomial': an algebraic expression made up of multiple terms (单项 is a single-term expression).

noun
(mathematics) polynomial

Examples

  • 多项式。
    Zhè ge duō xiàng shì yǒu sān gè xiàng.
    This polynomial has three terms.
  • 多项式。
    Lǎo shī jiào wǒ men zěn me jiě duō xiàng shì fāng chéng.
    The teacher taught us how to solve polynomial equations.
  • 多项式。
    Zhè ge duō xiàng shì de cì shù shì èr.
    The degree of this polynomial is two.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

多项many terms
多duōmany项xiàngterms
偏正Modifier + head
式shìformula

多 conveys many, 项 conveys terms, and 式 conveys formula.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

多 originally showed two pieces of meat placed together; the repeated meat shape gives the sense of many.

Open 多 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 項; 项 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yèhead
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng項xiàng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 項 combines 工 as a sound part with 頁, meaning head; the simplified 项 is a later shorthand.

Open 项 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
工工gōngwork
Sound part声符shēngfú
弋
弋yì式shì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

式 pairs 工, meaning work, with 弋, which gives the sound.

Open 式 →

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