WEEK 1 MODULE

COLLEGE ALGEBRA

Lesson 1: Polynomials and Its kinds Time: 6 hours

About the Lesson: This lesson introduces to students the terms associated with polynomials. It
discusses what polynomials are and how to add and subtract polynomials.

Objectives:
In this lesson, the students must be able to:
1) Give examples of polynomials, monomials, binomials, and trinomials;
2) Identify the base, coefficient, terms and exponent sin a given polynomial; and
3) Perform the addition and subtraction of polynomials.

Lesson Proper:
I. A. Activity 1: Word Hunt
Find the following words inside the box.

BASE CUBIC P C I T N I U Q Y N E T
COEFFICIENT LINEAR P M E X P O N E N T S C
DEGREE QUADRATIC
C O E F F I C I E N T O
EXPONENT QUINTIC
TERM QUARTIC Q N L I N E A R B D R N
CONSTANT U O C Y A P M R A E I S
BINOMIAL A M R I N L M T S G N T
MONOMIAL
D I U N B O Q U N R O A
POLYNOMIAL
TRINOMIAL R A E Q P U M V T E M N
A L S O B D C I R E I T
T A A C U B I N A S A A
I U B I N O M I A L L C
C I T R A U Q R T I C B

Lesson 1.1 Concept of Polynomials

Definition of Terms
In the algebraic expression 3x2 – x + 5, 3x2, -x and 5 are called the terms.
Term is a constant, a variable or a product of constant and variable.
2 2
In the term 3x , 3 is called the numerical coefficient and x is called the literal coefficient.
In the term –x has a numerical coefficient which is -1 and a literal coefficient which is x.
The term 5 is called the constant, which is usually referred to as the term without a variable.
Numerical coefficient is the constant/number.
Literal coefficient is the variable including its exponent.
The word Coefficient alone is referred to as the numerical coefficient.
In the literal coefficient x2, x is called the base and 2 is called the exponent.
Degree is the highest exponent or the highest sum of exponents of the variables in a term.
2
In 3x – x + 5, the degree is 2.
In 3x2y3 – x4y3 the degree is 7.
Similar Terms are terms having the same literal coefficients.
3x2 and -5x2 are similar because their literal coefficients are the same.
2 3 2
5x and 5x are NOT similar because their literal coefficients are NOT the same. 2x y
and –4x2y3 are NOT similar because their literal coefficients are NOT the same.

A polynomial is a kind of algebraic expression where each term is a constant, a variable or a

product of a constant and variable in which the variable has a whole number (non-negative number)
exponent. A polynomial can be a monomial, binomial, trinomial or a multinomial.

An algebraic expression is NOT a polynomial if

1) the exponent of the variable is NOT a whole number {0, 1, 2, 3..}.
2) the variable is inside the radical sign.
3) the variable is in the denominator.

Kinds of Polynomial according to the number of terms

1) Monomial – is a polynomial with only one term
2) Binomial – is polynomial with two terms
3) Trinomial – is a polynomial with three terms
4) Polynomial – is a polynomial with four or more terms

B. Activity 2
Tell whether the given expression is a polynomial or not. If it is a polynomial, determine its degree and tell its kind
according to the number of terms. If it is NOT, explain why.
1) 3x2 6) x ½ - 3x + 4
2) x2 – 5xy 7) x 4 – x7 + 3
3) 10 8)

4) 3x2 – 5xy + x3 + 5 9)

5) x3 – 5x-2 + 3 10)

A polynomial is in Standard Form if its terms are arranged from the term with the highest
degree, up to the term with the lowest degree.

If the polynomial is in standard form the first term is called the Leading Term, the numerical
coefficient of the leading term is called the Leading Coefficient and the exponent or the sum of
the exponents of the variable in the leading term the Degree of the polynomial.
 The standard form of 2x2 – 5x5 – 2x3 + 3x – 10 is -5x5 – 2x3 + 2x2 + 3x – 10.
5
The terms -5x is the leading term, -5 is its leading coefficient and 5 is its degree.
It is a quintic polynomial because its degree is 5.

C. Activity 3
Complete the table.
Kind of
Polynomial
Leading Leading
Given Degree according to Standard Form
Term Coefficient
the no. of
terms
1) 2x + 7
2
2) 3 – 4x + 7x
3) 10
4) x4 – 5x3 + 2x – x2 – 1
5 3
5) 5x + 3x – x
6) 3 – 8x
2
7) x – 9
5
8) 13 – 2x + x
3
9) 100x
10) 2x – 4x2 + x4 – 6
3

Lesson 1.2 Addition and Subtraction of Polynomials

ADDITION OF POLYNOMIALS

Adding polynomials is the same as the procedure used in combining like terms. When adding
polynomials, simply drop the parenthesis and combine like terms:

Rules in Adding Polynomials:

1. Combine only the SIMILAR TERMS.
2. Add only the coefficient then copy the variable and exponent.

Examples:

 MONOMIAL

1. 2x + 5x = ?
2. =?

3.
4.
Solution:
(Combine like terms.)
1.
(Add the coefficient and copy the
variable and exponent.)
 (Combine like terms.)
2.
(Add the coefficient and copy the
variable and exponent.)

(Combine like terms.)

3.
(Combine
((No terms like terms.)
are similar, just arrange the
(Combine like terms.)
terms according to standard form.)
((No terms are similar, just arrange the
terms (Add
according to standard
the coefficient andform.)
copy the variable and exponent.)

4.

 BINOMIAL

1.

2.

3.

4.

Solution:

1. (Combine like terms.)

(Add the coefficient and copy the
variable and exponent.)

2. (Combine like terms.)

((No terms are similar, just arrange the
terms according to standard form.)

3.
 4.

 TRINOMIAL

1.

2.

3.

Solution:
1.

2.

3.

SUBTRACTION OF POLYNOMIALS

To subtract Polynomials, first reverse the sign of each term we are subtracting (in other words
turn "+" into "-", and "-" into "+"), then add as usual:

Rules in Subtracting Polynomials:

1. Subtract only the SIMILAR TERMS.
2. Subtract only the coefficient then copy the variable and exponent
Examples:

 MONOMIAL

1.
 2.

3.

4.
Solution:
(Subtract like terms.)
1.
(Subtract only the coefficient and copy
the variable and exponent.)

(Subtract like terms.)

2.
(Subtract only the coefficient and copy
the variable and exponent.)

(Combine like terms.)

3. (Subtract like terms.)
((No terms are similar, just arrange the
terms (Add
according to standard
the coefficient form.)
and copy the variable and exponent.)

4.

 BINOMIAL

1.
2.

3.

4.

Steps in Subtracting Binomial and Trinomials:

1. Copy the first binomial.

2. Distribute the negative sign to the second binomial.
3. Simplify by subtracting the similar terms.
Solution:
(Copy the 1st binomial and distribute the
1. negative sign to the 2nd binomial.)

(Simplify)

2. (Copy the 1st binomial and distribute the

negative sign to the 2nd binomial.)

((No terms are similar, just arrange the

terms according to standard form.)

(Copy the 1st binomial and distribute the

3.
negative sign to the 2nd binomial.)
(Simplify)

4.

 TRINOMIAL

1.
2.
3.

Solution:
1.

2.
 3.

Activity 4:
Direction: Perform the indicated operations:

I. ADD or SUBTRACT the following:

1. ( 19 x 2  12 x  12)  (7 x 2  10 x  13) 4. (-18x2 + 4x - 16) - (15x2 + 4x - 13)

2. (5 x 6  9 x 3  6 x)  (9 x 6  20 x 2  6 x) 5. (17x2 + 7x - 14) - (-6x2 - 5x - 18)
3. ( 9 x 2  12)  (7 x 2  10 x  13) 6. ( 4 x 2  6 x  7)  ( 19 x 2  15 x  18)

Generalization:
In this lesson, you learned about the terminologies in polynomials: term, coefficient,
degree, similar terms, polynomial, standard form, leading term, leading coefficient. Also,
you will learn the different types of polynomial according to the number of terms as well
as on how to add and subtract polynomials.

NOTE:
If you need more help, you may reach your business math teacher via mobile phone or Facebook account:
NAME OF TEACHER MOBILE # FACEBOOK ACCOUNT
Vincent B. Batoon 09393362211 www.facebook.com/vincentbatoon
Angelo Rey V. Nava 09983510617 www.facebook.com/angeloreynava