3.

2
Polynomials

Types of Quantities
Variables
represented only by letters
and whose values may be
arbitrarily chosen depending
on the situation.

Types of Quantities

Constant
a quantity whose value is fixed
and may not be changed during
a particular discussion.

Example 1.4.1
F ma
F

- force

- mass

- acceleration

F , m, and a are variables.

Example 1.4.1
1 2
gt
2
t
1
2
g

is a variable.
is a constant.
is a constant referring to the
value of gravity.

Algebraic Expressions

Any combination of numbers and

symbols related by the operations
from the previous sections will be
called an algebraic expression.

Example 1.4.2

2x 3 y

y 2xy

x
x
y

x x
3

are algebraic expressions

Algebraic Sum
Any algebraic expression consisting
of distinct parts separated by + or
is called an algebraic sum.
2

2x xy 3

2xy 5

Term

Coefficient

Each factor of a term may be called

the coefficient of the others.

Example 1.4.3

In 3u v,
3 is the numerical coefficient.
4

u v is the literal coefficient.

Similar Terms
Terms having the same literal
coefficients are called similar
terms.
2

3x 2xy x 5 y

Polynomials
A polynomial is an algebraic
expression involving only nonnegative integral powers of one
or more variable and containing
no variable in the denominator.

Polynomials
Which of the following is a polynomial?
2

4) x y

2) x 3 y

5) x 2 x

1) x 3 y
2

x y
3)
x y

x
y
6)
3
7

Degree of a Term

The degree of a term of a polynomial

is the sum of the powers of all variables
in the term.

Example 1.4.6
Find the degree of each term.
2x

x y
3

x y

3x

12 y

Degree of a Polynomial

The degree of the polynomial

is that of its term of highest
degree.

Example 1.4.7
1.

3x x 2
degree 3

2.

3x x y 2x y y
degree 4

Types of Polynomials
-According to degrees
CONSTANT degree 0

LINEAR degree 1
QUADRATIC degree 2
CUBIC degree 3

7
x yz
xy x

3 x 3x x
2

Addition of Polynomials

To add polynomials, we add

similar terms.

Example 1.4.8
3

Add x 2x 1 and x 3x 5x 10.

x 2x 1
x 3x 5x 10
3

2x x 5 x 9

Subtraction of Polynomials
Example: Subtract the 2nd polynomial
from the 1st one.

4x 7x 2x 4
3

3x 8 x 3x 7
3
2
x 15x x 3
3

Multiplication of Polynomials

To multiply two polynomials, we

apply the distributive property,
the laws of exponents, and add
similar terms.

Example 1.4.9
Perform the indicated operations.
1.

3t

10

2 2t 5 3t 2 2t 3t 2 5
2

6t 4t 15t
3

6t 4t 15t 10
6t 3 15t 2 4t 10

2.

2x 2 y 3xy 2x 2 4 y
3

6x y 4x 8x y 3xy 2x y 4 y
2

6x y 4x 10x y 3xy 4 y

Division of Polynomials by Monomial

Let P x and R x be polynomials
and Q x be a non-zero mononial.
Then
P x R x
Q x

P x

Q x

R x

Q x

Example
20x 6 5x 3 2x 20x 6 5x 3 2x
1.

2 2
2
2
2x
2x
2x
2x
5
1
4
10x x
2
x
5

12x y 60x y 9 12x y

60x y
9
2.

3xy
3xy
3xy 3xy
3
4
2
4 x y 20x
xy

General Division of Polynomials

P x

Remainder
Quotient +
Q x
Q x
where P x and Q x are polynomials
such that Q x 0 and the degree of
Q x is less than or equal to the degree
of P x .

Divide x 5x 6 by x 1.

By long division:

12
x 6
x 1
x 1 x 2 5x 6

x x

6x 6
6x 6
12

SYNTHETIC DIVISION
Form:

x 2 5x 6
x 1

1
1

5
1
6

6
6
12

Remainder = 12
Quotient= x 6

P x
x a

1. Write the numerical coefficients

(of P(x) in descending power) with a
at the left side:
2. Bring down the leading coefficient:
3. Multiply this brought-down value by
a, and carry the result up into the
next column:
4. Add down the column:

5. Do Steps 3 and 4 repeatedly up

to the last column:

x 2 5x 6
12
x 6
x 1
x 1

2x 3x 6
Solve
using Synthetic Division.
x 2
2x 2 3x 3 6 3x 3 2x 2 6 ; x 2 x 2
2

-3
-3

-2
0
6 -8

-8

6
16
22

Remainder = 22
2

Quotient = 3x 4x 8
3x 3 2x 2 6
22
2
-3x 4x 8
x 2
x 2

Removing Grouping Symbols

Remove grouping symbols and simplify.

1. 2x 4 5 x 1 x
2

2x 4 5 x x
2
2x 20 4 x 4 x

6x 20 4 x

Removing Grouping Symbols

2. 4 3x 2 6 x 5
4 3x 12 2x 5
4 x 17
4 x 17
21 x

Recitation Activity
Integer Exponents (3.1)
Operations on Polynomials (3.2)

End of Chapter 3.2