# What is the difference between Algebraic Expressions and Polynomials?

Both are a combination of terms grouped together. What is the difference?

"Polynomial" is a precisely defined term. A polynomial is constructed from constants and variables by adding and multiplying. One could add "subtracting", but $$x-y$$ is $$x+(-1)y$$, so adding and multiplying are enough.

"Algebraic expression" is not a precisely defined term. Algebraic expressions include many things that are not polynomials, including rational funtions, which come from dividing polynomials, and things like $$\sqrt{x}$$.

• So the difference is that the polynomials can only include +/-/÷/x, variables, coefficients and constants, while algebraic expressions can include anything, for e.g. square roots? – TheFloatingMan Dec 18 '14 at 18:51
• Yes. ${}\qquad{}$ – Michael Hardy Dec 18 '14 at 18:54
• @Artemisveras : Actually one should not allow division. The set of polynomials is closed under addition, subtraction, and multiplication, but not division. ${}\qquad{}$ – Michael Hardy Feb 20 '15 at 6:00
• So if there's division in an expression, it's not a polynomial? – TheFloatingMan Feb 20 '15 at 13:34
• @Artemisveras : One can divide by scalars, since one just gets another scalar, and those are allowed. But dividing by anything containing variables will get you something that is not a polynomial, unless that factor in the denominator cancels out because the same factor appears in the numerator. ${}\qquad{}$ – Michael Hardy Feb 20 '15 at 18:52

Some difference is:

Algebraic Expression: may not be a continuous function on $R = (-\infty,\infty)$, but Polynomial is. Example: $\dfrac{x}{x+1}$, and $x^2-1$. The former is not defined at $x=-1$, while the latter is continous throughout $R$.