Virtual Learning Environment

By LDH Zale

Math 111
Polynomials

AC

At the end of this module, the student

should be able to:
Describe polynomial vocabulary through examples
Recall the processes in long multiplication, division
and synthetic division of polynomials
Simplify polynomials by employing the order of
operations in grouping symbols in addition
and subtraction of polynomials.
Simplify polynomials by utilizing the laws on
exponents in multiplication and division of
polynomials
Apply and solve polynomials in a problem
7/7/2014

College Algebra @NEU-LDH

Polynomials
SUB-TOPICS

Definition of algebraic terms

Polynomial vocabulary

Addition and Subtraction of Polynomials

Properties of Exponents

Multiplication and Division of Polynomials

Applications of Polynomials

Assessment Questions

Introduction
A spline is a long strip of wood that is curved while held
fixed at certain points. In the old days, shipbuilders used
splines to create the curved shape of the boats hull.

Mathematicians discovered that the shapes of the splines

can be obtained by piecing together parts of polynomials.
For example, the graph of a cubic polynomial can be made
to fit specified points by adjusting the coefficients of the
polynomial. Curves obtained in this way are called cubic
splines. In modern computer design programs, a curve can
be drawn by fixing two points, then using the mouse to drag
one or more anchor points. Moving the anchor points
amounts to adjusting the coefficients of a cubic polynomial.
Extracted from Stewarts Algebra and Trigonometry pp 302

4
7/7/2014

For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET

In algebra, a letter is usually used to represent a number. Lets define

some algebraic terms;

Variable a quantity with more than one possible value

Constant a quantity with only one possible value
Numerical coefficient a constant factor in any term
Literal coefficient a variable factor in any term
Algebraic expression - a variable, or a combination of a variable and
constants involving a finite number of indicted fundamental
operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication,
division, exponentiation and extraction of roots.
Degree of a monomial- the exponent of the variable
Polynomial if all the exponents of variable in a multinomial are nonnegative integers
Degree of Polynomial the degree of its term with the highest degree
linear (1st degree), quadratic (2nd degree), cubic (3rd degree)
For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET

Examples of algebraic expressions:

1.

2.

3.

-2x3y5

4.

5x2 -y5 +2

5.

3x -2y-5

6.

x3 -2x + 5
x +8

Which item/s is a
polynomial?
And
which is not?
What is the degree of
each polynomial?

Only one term, monomial involving a single variable

Only one term, monomial involving a constant

Only one term, monomial involving a constant and

2 variables or literal coefficients, degree is 8
Three terms, trinomial with 5 as the leading
coefficient and 5x2 as the leading term.
Two terms, binomial???
A quotient of 2 polynomials, rational expression,
Is this algebraic expression a polynomial???
For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET

A Polynomial can have :

Constants (like 4, -2, or 1/3)
Variables (like x, and y)
Exponents (like the 3 in x3 ) but only 0,1,2,3,.etc (non-negative)
That can be combined using:
+
addition,
subtraction, and
x
multiplication oppppps.but not division!
These rules keeps polynomials simple, so they are easy to work with!

For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET

Polynomial or Not??
Exponents: any non-negative integer

5xy2 - 3x + 5y3 - 3
terms

2
x+2

5xy-2
Not a polynomial

For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET

These are polynomials

3x
x-2
-6y2 n (1/2) z
xyz + 4x2yz3 0.5 xz 200x +
213 x24 + 100v2
5

(Yes, even 5 is a polynomial, it has one term which just

happens to be a constant)

For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET

And these are not polynomials:

2/(x+2) because dividing is not allowed
1/x is not because x has a negative exponent
3xy-2 for the same reason as stated from previous example
x because the exponent of x is 1/2 . x should have a positive integer exponent
But these are polynomials:
x/2 because it is also the same as x
3x/8 for the same reason above
2 because it is a constant

Monomial, Binomial, Trinomial

3xy2

3x-2

3x -2x2- 4

Monomial (1 term)

Binomial (2 terms)

Trinomial (3 terms)

For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET

Degree
The degree of a polynomial with only one variable is the largest exponent of that
variable.
Example: 4x3 x + 3 The degree is 3 (the largest exponent of x)
Standard Form
The standard form for writing a polynomial is to put the terms with the highest
degree first
Example: Put this in standard form 3x3 2x2 + -6 + 3x4
The highest degree is 4, so that goes first, then 3, 2 and then the
constant last:

3x4 + 3x3 2x2 -6

For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET

Addition and Subtraction of

Polynomials
Field axioms of real numbers apply to the terms
of the polynomial
Only similar terms could be added (add their
numerical coefficients)
To remove a grouping symbol, (),[],{}, preceded
by,
a minus sign, change the sign of each term
factor, use distributive law
For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET

#1 Simplify:

m + [2m 3(2m 5n) 2m]

Distribute -3 to each term in (2m-5n)

= m+ [2m 6m + 15 n -2m]
Combine like terms in the grouping

= m+[-6m + 15n]
Remove the grouping and combine like terms

= -5m +15n (answer)

For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET

#2 Simplify:

3(2s-3t)-[s-t-(s+t)]
By Distributive Law

= 6s-9t-[s-t-s-t]
Combine like terms in the grouping

= 6s-9t-[-2t]
Remove the grouping and combine like terms

= 6s-7t (answer)
For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET

#3. Arranging polynomials in column

Subtract: x3y 4x2y2+ 5y4 from the sum of
2x3y + 3x2y2 -xy3 and -5x2y2+ 6xy3+ 2y4
Step 1:
2x3y + 3x2y2 -xy3
(+)
-5x2y2+ 6xy3+ 2y4
2x3y -2x2y2+ 5xy3+ 2y4
Step 2:
2x3y -2x2y2+ 5xy3+ 2y4
(-) x3y 4x2y2
+ 5y4
x3y +2x2y2+ 5xy3 - 3y4 (answer)
For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET

Laws of Exponents
1.

an am = an+m

2. (an )m =

anm
3. (ab )n = anbn
4. (a/b )n =

an/bn

an-m If n>m
5.

If n=m

1/am-n If n<m

For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET

Multiplication of Polynomials
Simplify -3x3 (4x2 x +10)
To do this, I have to distribute the -3x through the parentheses:

-3x3 (4x2 x +10) = -3x3 (4x2) 3x3 (-x) - 3x3 (10)

= -12x5 + 3x4 30x3
Simplify x3n+1 (4x2n xn-4 )

To do this, I have to distribute the x3n+1 through the

parentheses:
x3n+1 (4x2n xn-4 ) = x3n+1 (-4x2n) x3n+1(-xn-4)
= 4x5n+1 + x4n-3
For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET

Simplify (x+3)(x+2)
By distributive property, of by FOIL method, take
each of the terms in the first parenthesis
throught each of the terms in the second
parenthesis
Or by FOIL method
(x+3)(x+2)
(x+3)(x+2) = x +2x
= (x+3)(x) + (x+3)(2)
+3x +6
= x(x) + 3(x) + x(2) + 3(2)
= x + 5x +6
2
= x +3x +2x+6
= x2+ 5x +6
2

For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET

Or multiplying vertically,

For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET

Simplify (4x2 -4x-7)(x+3)

Painful process, isnt it?? Ill do it vertically..

For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET

For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET

For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET

Division of Polynomials
Find the indicated quotient
8x3 24 x 5
1. --------------4x2

8x3
24 x5
= ------ - ------4x2
4x2

Using law of exponent

an-m

= 2x 6x3
= 2x (1-3x2) answer
2. (a3 +3 a 3a2 ) (a 2) by long division
a2 -a -3

a 2 /a3 3a2 a +3
3
2
(-)a (+)-2a
0 - a2

2 +2a
a
(+)
(-)

Rewrite and arrange in standard form

0 3a +3
(+)

3a(-)+6
0

-3 (remainder)

hence, the quotient is (a2 a 3) - 3/(a-2)

For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET

Use synthetic division: (6x3 11x2 + 2) divided by (3x-1).

Write the result in Q + R/D form

6 11 + 0 + 2 1/3
2 -3

-1

6 - 9 - 3 +1

Make sure the expression is arranged in standard form

then write the numerical coefficient. Leave a space for
the gaps in the degrees of polynomial terms or write zero.
Equate 3x-1 = 0 , and solve for x, we find x=1/3
The obtained numbers are the numerical coefficient
of the quotient. The polynomial obtained is of one degree
lower than the dividend.

hence, answer is (6x2 9x 3) + 1/(3x-1)

Check by multiplication using distributive property :

[(6x2 9x 3) + 1/(3x-1)] (3x-1)
= 18 x3 27x2 9x -6x2 + 9x + 3 + 1
= (18 x3 33x2 +3) + 1
(divide the trinomial by 3)
= 6x3 11x2 + 2
(answer)
For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET

Assessment:
1. The following are polynomials EXCEPT
a. 3 x + 3y
c. 4x/(y-1)
b. x 2y
d. x/3 y/5
2. The degree of the second term in 5x4 y6 - 10x5 y7+4x2 y6 is
a. 12
c. 7
b. 5
d. 10

3. To simplify {2x-y-[3x-(4x+y-3)-y]-7}, the answer is

a. x+y+10
c. x-y+10
b.3x-y+10
d. 3x+y+10
4. The answer to : Add (x 3 + 5x 2 -3) to the difference when (-3x2 + x +2 ) is subtracted
from (1- 2x 3x3 ) is
a. - 2x3 +8x2 -3x 4
c. 4x3 +2x2 +3x 2
b. x3 +5x2 +3x 2
d. 2x3 -8x2 +3x - 4
5 . The following are polynomials EXCEPT
a. 3/2
c. 4x/y
b. 3x 2y-2
d. 2x/3 + 3y/5
6. The degree of the polynomial 7x2 y4 - 15x2 y5+14x8 y is
a. 8
c. 6
b. 9
d. 7
For useThis
in College
file is exclusively
Algebra atfor
NEU-CET
Math 171 class by LDH

25

Assessment:
7. The simplified form of the expression 2x+ 5(y-4x)-7[2(3x-4y)-4(-2x-6y)]is
a. -116x 107 y
c. -4x +54y

b. -116x 117 y
d. -4x+68y

8. If we subtract the sum of the second and third expressions from the first of
3x-2y+8z, 12x y -10z, 3x-y+7z, the answer is
a. -12x +11z
b. 12x +11z
c. -12x -11z
d. 12x - 11z
9. The following are polynomials EXCEPT
a. 3/2y
c. 4x2/y4
b. 3x 2 y
d. 2x/3 + y/2

10. The simplified form of the expression 2{p q [3p r (2p + 1) + 3pr] -2r} is
a. 2p +pq +2qr - 2pqr +r
c. 2p 6pq +2qr - 2pqr -4r
b. p pq +qr - pqr r
d. 2p +pq -4qr - pqr -4r
11. The product of 3a2b3 (2a 3a3b2 b5) is
a. a3b3 + 9a5b5 3a2b8
b. 6a3b3 9a5b5 + 3a2b8

c. a3b3 a5b5 a2b8

d. 6a3b3 9a5b5 3a2b8

12. The product of (4x2+9)(2x-3)(2x+3) is

a. 16x4+81
b. 16x4-81

c. 16x4+72x2+81
d. 16x4-72x2 +81
26

For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET

13. The following are polynomials EXCEPT

a. 3
b. 2 2y

c. 4x-3 /(y-1)
d. x/3 y/5

14. The simplified form of m + [2m 3(2m 5n) 2m] is

a. -5m +15n
c. 5m +15n
b. -5m -15n
d. -5m -5n
15. The simplified form of -3x (x+1) + 2x2 (5x-2) x3 (2x-3) is
a. -2x4 +13x3 + 7x2 + 3x
c. 2x4 -13x3 7x2 3x
b. -2x4 +13x3 7x2 3x
d. x4 +13x3 7x2 3x
16. When 7x3m-1 y4n+4 is multiplied by 5x3 y4 the product is
a. 35x9m-3 y16n+16
c. 35x6m-1 y8n+4
b. 35x3m-+2y4n+8
d. 35x3m-3 y4n+16

27
For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET

These questions are of low and medium level of cognitive

complexity to measure the learning of the students after the
discussion. When you score below 12 points, you should review
this topic and understand the concept of Polynomials before
proceeding to solve questions/exercises of higher level of
cognitive complexity.
Developed by LDH for use in Math111@NEU-CET

References:

Acelajado, et.al, Algebra Concepts and Processes, 3rd ed. 2005

Bellman, Bragg, Chapin, Gardella, Hall, Handlin, Sr., Manfre, Algebra, 2005
Stewart, Redlin, Watson, Algebra and Trigonometry, 2nd ed. 2007
Kaufmann, Schwitters, Intermediate Algebra, 2010

7/7/2014

28
For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET