John Wallis, an English mathematician in the 1600s, was the first to develop concepts of zero, negative, and fractional exponents. The term polynomial refers to expressions with one variable. Robert Recorde introduced the modern symbol for equality in 1557. Polynomial expressions and cancelling common factors are used in genetics to model gene combinations during fertilization. Key algebraic concepts like subtraction and division were developed through additive inverses and multiplication by reciprocals. The word "algebra" originates from a book by the Arabic mathematician Al-Khowarizmi that focused on solving linear equations.

1. • John Wallis (1616 - 1703) , an English mathematician, was the first to expose
zero, negative, and fractional exponents.
• The term polynomial, without qualification usually means a polynomial in one
variable.
• The modern symbol for equality was used for the first time in 1557 by the
English mathematician Robert Recorde.
• The principle of squaring a binomial is used in Punnet Squares which show
imposible ways that hereditary genes can combine at fertilization.
• Only common factors can be cancelled. Common terms are never canceled.
• The subtraction statement a – c is the same as the addition statement a + (-c).
• The division statement a/c is the same as the multiplication statement a. 1/c
• The slide rule, another mechanical computing device was invented around 1620
by Edmund Gunter.
• The word algebra came from a title of a book written by Al-Khowarizmi, an
Arabic mathematician. The book Hisab al-jabrw’almuqabalah, dealt mainly with
solving linear equations.