/sci/ - Science & Math

I thought a monomial had a coefficient (number), a variable and an exponent, so basically one 'term' like this

[math]2x^2[/math]

So why am I reading about multiplying and dividing monomials from this book?

[math]2a^2 * 8ab^5 -> 16a^3b^5[/math]

Isn't this a polynomial?