That long, intimidating polynomial looks like an enemy. But you can make friends with it. Here's how.

First, get to know its name. What is its degree (the highest exponent)? What is its leading coefficient?

Next, find out where it lives. What does its graph look like? Use Desmos to get a visual introduction.

Learn about its family. What are its 'roots' or 'zeros'? These are the most important members of its family.

Understand its behavior. What does it do as 'x' gets very big or very small? This is its 'end behavior.'

Play with it. Factor it. See what its original building blocks were. This is like learning its life story.

Don't see it as one big, scary thing. See it as a collection of smaller, friendlier terms, each with its own personality.

The more time you spend with polynomials, the less intimidating they become.

You start to recognize the different 'types' and know how they will behave.

You don't have to love them, but by making friends with them, you take away their power to intimidate you.