P.
4 Notes
Polynomials
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 1
Objectives:
• Understand the vocabulary of polynomials.
• Add and subtract polynomials.
• Multiply polynomials.
• Use FOIL in polynomial multiplication.
• Use special products in polynomial multiplication.
• Perform operations with polynomials in several
variables.
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 2
Definition of a Polynomial in x
A polynomial in x is an algebraic expression of the
form
an x n + an−1 x n−1 + an−2 x n−2 + ... + a1x + a0
where an, an-1, an-2, ..., a1 and a0 are real numbers, an 0
and n is a nonnegative integer. The polynomial is of
degree n, an is the leading coefficient, and a0 is the
constant term.
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 3
Polynomials (continued)
When a polynomial is in standard form, the terms are
written in the order of descending powers of the
variable. Thus, the notation that we use to describe a
polynomial in x:
an x n + an−1 x n−1 + an−2 x n−2 + ... + a1x + a0
Simplified polynomials with one, two, or three terms
have special names: monomial (one term); binomial
(two terms); trinomial (three terms).
Simplified polynomials with four or more terms have
no special names.
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 4
Adding and Subtracting Polynomials
Polynomials are added and subtracted by combining
like terms. Like terms are terms that have exactly the
same variable factors.
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 5
Example: Adding and Subtracting Polynomials
Perform the indicated operations and simplify:
(−17 x3 + 4 x 2 − 11x − 5) + (16 x3 − 3x 2 + 3x − 15)
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 6
Example
(3 x − 4 x + 7) − (5 x + 8 − 2 x )
2 2
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 7
Checkpoint 1
Add or subtract and simplify.
a. (−9 x 3 + 7 x 2 − 5 x + 3) + (13x 3 + 2 x 2 − 8 x − 6)
(7 x − 8 x + 9 x − 6) − (2 x − 6 x − 3 x + 9)
3 2 3 2
b.
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 8
Multiplying Polynomials
The product of two monomials is obtained by using
properties of exponents.
We use the distributive property to multiply a
monomial and a polynomial that is not a monomial.
To multiply two polynomials when neither is a
monomial, we multiply each term of one polynomial by
each term of the other polynomial. Then combine like
terms.
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 9
Example: Multiplying a Binomial and a Trinomial
Multiply: (5 x − 2)(3x − 5 x + 4)
2
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 10
Checkpoint 2
Multiply: (2 x + 3)( x + 4 x + 5)
2
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 11
The Product of Two Binomials: FOIL
Any two binomials can be quickly multiplied by using
the FOIL method:
F represents the product of the first two terms in each
binomial.
O represents the product of the outside terms.
I represents the product of the inside terms.
L represents the product of the last, or second terms
in each binomial.
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 12
Example: Using the FOIL Method
Multiply: (7 x − 5)(4 x − 3)
F
O
I
L
Product:
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 13
Checkpoint 3
Multiply: (3 x + 4)(5 x − 3)
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 14
Special Products
There are several products that occur so frequently that
it’s convenient to memorize the form, or pattern, of
these formulas. If A and B represent real numbers,
variables, or algebraic expressions, then:
Difference of Squares
( A + B)( A − B) = A − B
2 2
( A + B)2 = A2 + 2 AB + B 2 Squaring a Binomial
( A − B)2 = A2 − 2 AB + B 2
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 15
Example: Finding the Product of the Difference of
Squares
Multiply: (7 x + 8)(7 x − 8)
(2 y − 5)(2 y + 5)
3 3
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 16
Example: Squaring a Binomial
Multiply:
( x + 10) 2
(5 x + 4 ) 2
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 17
Multiply:
( x − 9) 2
(7 x − 3) 2
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 18
Checkpoint 4
Multiply:
a. (4 y + 3)(4 y − 3)
b.
(5a + 6)(5a − 6)
4 4
( x + 3) 2
c.
d. ( x − 4) 2
e. (5 y − 6) 2
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 19
Special Products
( A + B ) = A + 3 A B + 3 AB + B
3 3 2 2 3
( A − B ) 3 = A3 − 3 A2 B + 3 AB 2 − B 3
Multiply:
( x + 4) 3
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 20
Example:
Multiply:
(5 x − 2) 3
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 21
Checkpoint 5
Multiply:
(3 x + 2 ) 3
a.
( x − 5) 3
b.
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 22
Polynomials in Several Variables
A polynomial in two variables, x and y, contains the
sum of one or more monomials in the form axnym.
The constant, a, is the coefficient.
The exponents, n and m, represent whole numbers. The
degree of the monomial axnym is n + m.
The degree of a polynomial in two variables is the
highest degree of all its terms.
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 23
Example: Subtracting Polynomials in Two Variables
Subtract: ( x 3
− 4 x 2
y + 5 xy 2
− y 3
) − ( x 3
− 6 x 2
y + y 3
)
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 24
Example: Multiplying Polynomials in Two Variables
Multiply: (7 x − 6 y )(3 x − y )
2
Each of the factors is a binomial, so we can apply the
FOIL method for this multiplication.
F
O
I
L
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 25
Checkpoint 6
Multiply:
a. ( x + 4 y )(3 x − 5 y )
b. (5 x + 3 y ) 2
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 26
Checkpoint Answers
CP 1
a. 4 x + 9 x − 13x − 3
3 2
b. 5 x − 2 x + 12 x − 15
3 2
CP 2
2 x + 11x + 22 x + 15
3 2
CP 3
15 x + 11x − 12
2
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 27
CP 4 CP 5
16 y − 9
2 a. 27 x + 54 x + 36 x + 8
3 2
a.
b. 25a 8 − 36 b. x − 15 x + 75 x − 125
3 2
c.
x + 6x + 9
2 CP 6
9 x 2 + 42 x + 49 a.
3 x + 7 xy − 20 y
2 2
d.
e. x − 8 x + 16
2 25 x 2 + 30 xy + 9 y 2
b.
f. 25 y 2 − 60 y + 36
Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 28
