Is x+y a polynomial?

Yes, x + y is a polynomial.

🔍 Here's why:

• A polynomial is an expression made up of variables and coefficients, combined using addition, subtraction, and multiplication.

• The variables must be raised to non-negative integer exponents.

• In x + y, both variables have an implicit exponent of 1 (i.e., x1+y1x^1 + y^1), which satisfies the definition.

📚 This came up in a recent discussion where an AI mistakenly said x + y wasn’t a polynomial. Turns out, the AI misread the expression as x divided by y (x/y), which would not be a polynomial because division by a variable violates the rules¹.

Want to explore more quirky math misconceptions or dive deeper into polynomial properties?

¹www.mapleprimes.com

Some fun background info on these puzzles, especially the Japanese picking up on a puzzle by a retiree in Indiana (retired Mathematician, perhaps?) in the 1980's without Internet and social media.

Useful hint. Couldn't find anything in the help system about this possibility.

Thanks!