Module 2

Algebraic
Expressions,
Polynomials and
Operations on
Polynomials

Prepared By: Mr. Reiniel Mark A. Sison

Reviewed By: Ms. Angeline A. Relos For Educational Purposes Only
Algebraic Expressions

Definitions:

Constant – any specific real number that is fixed and unchangeable.

Variable – any letter which represent any real number.

Term – the product of a constant and variables with or without powers together with its
corresponding sign.

Algebraic Expression – any constant or variable or combination of both them using the
four operations, powers and roots.

Examples:
𝑦−2𝑧
3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 4 √𝑥+10 𝑦 2 +4
√𝑥 4 + 3𝑦 3 5𝑥𝑦 3

Polynomial – is an algebraic expression consisting of a term or a sum or difference of terms in

which the exponent of each variable for every term is a whole number.

A polynomial in the variable 𝑥 is an expression of the form:

𝑎𝑛 𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑎𝑛−1 𝑥 𝑛−1+ … + 𝑎1 𝑥+ 𝑎0

where,

𝑎0 , 𝑎1 , … , 𝑎𝑛 are real numbers and 𝑛 is a nonnegative integer.

𝑎0 , 𝑎1 , … , 𝑎𝑛 are called numerical coefficients.

𝑎0 is the constant coefficient or the constant term.

𝑥 𝑛 , 𝑥 𝑛−1 , … , 𝑥 are called literal coefficients.

𝑎𝑛 is the coefficient of the highest power and is called the leading coefficient.

𝑎𝑛 𝑥 𝑛 is the leading term.

The highest exponent of the variable 𝑥 is called the degree of the polynomial.

If a polynomial consists of terms with several literal coefficients (variables), then

the degree of the polynomial is the highest sum of the exponents of the variables
among the given terms.

Note: Write the terms of the polynomial in descending power.

Prepared By: Mr. Reiniel Mark A. Sison

Reviewed By: Ms. Angeline A. Relos For Educational Purposes Only
Parts of a Polynomial

Classifications of Polynomials

Monomial – a polynomial consisting of only one term.

Binomial – a polynomial consisting of two terms.

Trinomial – a polynomial consisting of three terms.

Multinomial – a polynomial consisting of more than three terms.

Examples:

Polynomial Type Term/s Degree Coefficient/s

6 Monomial 6 0 6
9𝑥 5 Monomial 9𝑥 5 5 9
3𝑥 2 𝑦 3 𝑧 4 Monomial 3𝑥 2 𝑦 3 𝑧 4 9 3
5𝑥 + 1 Binomial 5𝑥, 1 1 5,1
𝑥 3 𝑦 3 + 2𝑥 2 𝑦 5 Binomial 𝑥 3 𝑦 3 , 2𝑥 2 𝑦 5 7 1,2
2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 4 Trinomial 2𝑥 2 , −3𝑥, 4 2 2, −3,4
1 Polynomial of 4 1 3 3, −1,1, − 2
1
3 − 𝑥 + 𝑥2 − 𝑥3 3, −𝑥, 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 3
2 terms/ Multinomial 2

Prepared By: Mr. Reiniel Mark A. Sison

Reviewed By: Ms. Angeline A. Relos For Educational Purposes Only
Operations on Polynomials

1. Addition and Subtraction of Polynomials

You can only add or subtract terms that are similar (terms having the same
variables and the same exponents).

Example: −3𝑥 2 𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 4𝑥 2 𝑦 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑠

To add or subtract similar terms, just add or subtract their numerical coefficients
and copy the variables and exponents.

Examples: (1) 2𝑎𝑏 2 + 10𝑎𝑏 2 = 12𝑎𝑏 2 (2) 5𝑎2 − 7𝑎2 = −2𝑎2

When subtracting polynomials, we have to remember that if a minus sign

precedes an expression in parenthesis, then the sign of every term within the
parenthesis is changed when we remove the parenthesis.
2 2 2 2
Examples: (1) − (𝑏 + 𝑐) = −𝑏 − 𝑐 (2) − (−12𝑎𝑏 − 𝑎𝑐 + 2𝑏 ) = 12𝑎𝑏 + 𝑎𝑐 − 2𝑏

More Examples:

1. (𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 4) + (𝑥 3 + 5𝑥 2 − 7𝑥) 4. (𝑥𝑦 3 − 6𝑥 2 𝑦) − (−𝑥𝑦 3 + 4𝑥 2 𝑦 − 12𝑥𝑦)

= 𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 4 + 𝑥 3 + 5𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 = 𝑥𝑦 3 − 6𝑥 2 𝑦 + 𝑥𝑦 3 − 4𝑥 2 𝑦 + 12𝑥𝑦

= 𝟐𝒙𝟑 − 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟒 = 𝟐𝒙𝒚𝟑 − 𝟏𝟎𝒙𝟐 𝒚 + 𝟏𝟐𝒙𝒚

2. (𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 4) − (𝑥 3 + 5𝑥 2 − 7𝑥) 5. (𝑦 2 − 2𝑦 + 3) − (−𝑦 3 − 2𝑦 2 + 𝑦)

= 𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 4 − 𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 = 𝑦 2 − 2𝑦 + 3 + 𝑦 3 + 2𝑦 2 − 𝑦

= −𝟏𝟏𝒙𝟐 + 𝟗𝒙 + 𝟒 = 𝒚𝟑 + 𝟑𝒚𝟐 − 𝟑𝒚 + 𝟑

3. (2𝑎𝑏 − 6𝑥𝑦 + 7𝑏𝑐 + 4) + (3𝑎𝑏 + 7𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑏𝑐 − 3)

= 2𝑎𝑏 − 6𝑥𝑦 + 7𝑏𝑐 + 4 + 3𝑎𝑏 + 7𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑏𝑐 − 3

= 𝟓𝒂𝒃 + 𝒙𝒚 + 𝟓𝒃𝒄 + 𝟏

Prepared By: Mr. Reiniel Mark A. Sison

Reviewed By: Ms. Angeline A. Relos For Educational Purposes Only
2. Multiplication of Polynomials

We multiply two factors by multiplying each term of the first factor to the terms of
the second factor. After that, add the products and combine similar terms. Take note
that the sign of the terms do matter.

Example: (𝑎 + 𝑏)(𝑐 + 𝑑) = 𝑎𝑐 + 𝑎𝑑 + 𝑏𝑐 + 𝑏𝑑

⇒ multiply 𝑎 to 𝑐 and 𝑑, next multiply 𝑏 to 𝑐 and 𝑑 then add the products.

More Examples:

1. 4𝑥 2 𝑦 2 (2𝑥𝑦 − 5𝑥 + 3𝑦)

= 𝟖𝒙𝟑 𝒚𝟑 − 𝟐𝟎𝒙𝟑 𝒚𝟐 + 𝟏𝟐𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟑

2. (2𝑥 + 1)(3𝑥 − 5)

= 6𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 + 3𝑥 − 5

= 𝟔𝒙𝟐 − 𝟕𝒙 − 𝟓

3. (𝑥 2 − 3)(𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 + 1)

= 𝑥 5 + 2𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 − 3

= 𝒙𝟓 − 𝒙𝟑 + 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟔𝒙 − 𝟑

4. (𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 2)

= 𝑥 4 + 4𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 3 − 12𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 2

= 𝒙𝟒 + 𝒙𝟑 − 𝟗𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟐

5. (2𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 1)

= 2𝑥 4 + 2𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 3𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 3

= 𝟐𝒙𝟒 + 𝟒𝒙𝟑 + 𝟕𝒙𝟐 + 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟑

Prepared By: Mr. Reiniel Mark A. Sison

Reviewed By: Ms. Angeline A. Relos For Educational Purposes Only
3. Division of Polynomials

To divide a polynomial with more than one term by a monomial, use the
distributive property. That is, use the fact that if c ≠ 0, then

𝑎+𝑏 1 𝑎 𝑏
= (𝑎 + 𝑏) = +
𝑐 𝑐 𝑐 𝑐
Example:

2𝑥 2 𝑦+𝑥𝑦 2 +𝑥𝑦 1 2𝑥 2 𝑦 𝑥𝑦 2 𝑥𝑦
= (2𝑥 2 𝑦 + 𝑥𝑦 2 + 𝑥𝑦) = + + = 𝟐𝒙 + 𝒚 + 𝟏
𝑥𝑦 𝑥𝑦 𝑥𝑦 𝑥𝑦 𝑥𝑦

The algorithm, or process, for dividing a polynomial by a polynomial is similar to

the long-division algorithm in arithmetic.

Before dividing, arrange the terms of the polynomials in descending powers of

common variables.

If there is a remainder just add the remainder divided by the divisor to the
quotient. (Check examples 2 and 3)

If the dividend or the divisor has missing terms, these terms should be inserted
with zero coefficients. (Check example 4)

Examples:

28𝑥 3 𝑦 5 −21𝑥 4 𝑦3 +49𝑥 3 𝑦 6

1.
7𝑥 2 𝑦3

28𝑥 3 𝑦 5 21𝑥 4 𝑦3 49𝑥 3 𝑦 6

= − +
7𝑥 2 𝑦 3 7𝑥 2 𝑦 3 7𝑥 2 𝑦 3

= 𝟒𝒙𝒚𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟕𝒙𝒚𝟑

Prepared By: Mr. Reiniel Mark A. Sison

Reviewed By: Ms. Angeline A. Relos For Educational Purposes Only
2. Divide (6𝑎3 + 11𝑎2 − 4𝑎 − 9) 𝑏𝑦 (3𝑎 − 2)

Procedure 1:

Procedure 2:

Procedure 3:

Now that the degree of the remainder is less than that of the divisor, we can now
stop dividing.

To write the final answer, copy the quotient then add the remainder divided by
the divisor.

6𝑎3 +11𝑎2 −4𝑎−9 −𝟓 𝟓

Therefore = 𝟐𝒂𝟐 + 𝟓𝒂 + 𝟐 + 𝟑𝒂−𝟐 or 𝟐𝒂𝟐 + 𝟓𝒂 + 𝟐 − 𝟑𝒂−𝟐
3𝑎−2

Prepared By: Mr. Reiniel Mark A. Sison

Reviewed By: Ms. Angeline A. Relos For Educational Purposes Only
3. Divide (15𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 3𝑥 4 + 3 − 5𝑥 3 ) 𝑏𝑦 (4 − 𝑥 + 𝑥 2 )

Note: Arrange first the dividend and the divisor in descending powers.

3 2
3𝑥4 −5𝑥 +15𝑥 −4𝑥+3 𝟓𝒙−𝟏
Therefore
𝑥2 −𝑥+4
= 𝟑𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏 + 𝒙𝟐−𝒙+𝟒

𝑥 3 −13𝑥−12
4.
𝑥−4

Note: One term of the dividend is missing. You must insert the missing term with zero
coefficient to the dividend. Therefore 𝑥 3 − 13𝑥 − 12 will become 𝑥 3 + 0𝑥 2 − 13𝑥 − 12

3
𝑥 −13𝑥−12
Therefore = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟑
𝑥−4

Prepared By: Mr. Reiniel Mark A. Sison

Reviewed By: Ms. Angeline A. Relos For Educational Purposes Only
Synthetic Division

Synthetic Division is a quick method for dividing polynomials. It can be used

when the divisor is of the form 𝑥 − 𝑎. 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒: 𝑥 = 𝑣𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 , 𝑎 = 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟.

Algorithm (Steps):

1. Equate the divisor to zero and solve the value of the variable.

2. Write the numerical coefficients of the terms of the dividend in one row (including
their signs). Note: terms must be in descending order.

3. Write the value of the variable in a box and place it at the left of the first
coefficient of the first row.

4. Bring down the first coefficient of the first row to a third row and multiply that
coefficient to the value of the variable.

5. Write the product under the second coefficient in the second row then add them.
The sum must be written at the third row in the same column. (This will now be
your new factor)

6. Repeat the process of multiplying and adding.

7. Continue until there are no more coefficients in the dividend.

8. All the numbers except the rightmost number of the third row are the numerical
coefficients of the terms of the quotient.

9. The rightmost number will be the remainder if it is not zero.

10. The exponent of the variables of the quotient is one degree lesser than that of
the dividend.

11. Like in long division, add the remainder divided by the divisor to the quotient.

Note: If a term is missing in the dividend, insert a zero in that place.

Prepared By: Mr. Reiniel Mark A. Sison

Reviewed By: Ms. Angeline A. Relos For Educational Purposes Only
Examples:

1. Divide (𝑎2 − 7𝑎 − 11) 𝑏𝑦 (𝑎 − 8) using synthetic division.

Step 1: Equate 𝑎 − 8 to zero then get the value of 𝑎.

⇒ 𝑎 − 8 = 0 𝑠𝑜, 𝑎 = 8

Step 2: Write the numerical coefficients of the dividend in one row. Include their signs.

⇒ 1 −7 − 11

Step 3: Write 8 in a box and place it at the left of 1.

⇒ 8 1 −7 − 11

Step 4: Bring down 1 to a third row.

⇒ 8 1 −7 − 11

Step 5: Multiply 1 to 8 then place their product below −7 in the second row.

⇒ 8 1 −7 − 11

Step 6: Add −7 and 8 then place the sum in the third row of the same column.

⇒⇒ 8 1 −7 − 11

1 1

Step 7: Multiply the sum (1) to the number in the box (8) and place their product below
−11 in the second row.

⇒ 8 1 −7 − 11

8 8

1 1

Prepared By: Mr. Reiniel Mark A. Sison

Reviewed By: Ms. Angeline A. Relos For Educational Purposes Only
Step 8: Add −11 and 8 then place the sum in the third row of the same column.

⇒ 8 1 −7 − 11

8 8

1 1 −3

Step 9: After we exhaust all the numbers in the dividend, we now stop the process.

Step 10: The leftmost number will be the numerical coefficient of the first term of the
quotient. The exponent of its variable will be one degree lower than that of the degree of
the dividend. The second number will be the next term and will be one degree less than
that of the first term. The last number will be the remainder and will be added to the
quotient after dividing it by the divisor. So,
𝟑
⇒ 𝒂+𝟏−
𝒂−𝟖

2. Divide 𝑥 3 − 23𝑥 − 10 by 𝑥 − 5 using synthetic division.

Note: In this example the dividend has a missing term (𝑥 2 ) so we inserted a zero in
replace of the missing term.

⇒ 5 1 0 − 23 − 10

5 25 10

1 5 2 0

Quotient: 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟐

Prepared By: Mr. Reiniel Mark A. Sison

Reviewed By: Ms. Angeline A. Relos For Educational Purposes Only
3. Divide (6𝑥 3 + 11𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 − 9) 𝑏𝑦 (3𝑥 − 2) using synthetic division.

Note: In this example the divisor is in the form 𝑎𝑥 − 𝑏. Just follow the first step.
2
⇒ 6 11 −4 −9
3

4 10 4

6 15 6 −5

5
Temporary Quotient: 6𝑥 2 + 15𝑥 + 6 − 2
𝑥−3

2
Notice that the divisor was changed to 𝑥 − 3 because when we equate 3𝑥 − 2 to zero
2 2 2
and get the value of 𝑥 we got 𝑥 = 3 and when we return 𝑥 = 3 to form 𝑥 − 𝑎 we got 𝑥 − 3.

If the divisor is in the form 𝑎𝑥 − 𝑏 and after equating it to zero, return it in the form 𝑥 − 𝑎;
that will be the divisor of the remainder.

To return the divisor to its original form and also to get the final answer, multiply the
1
quotient by (𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑎𝑥 − 𝑏) in this case:
𝑎

𝑎𝑥 − 𝑏 = 3𝑥 − 2 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑎 = 3

1 5 𝟓
Final Quotient: ( ) (6𝑥 2 + 15𝑥 + 6 − 2 ) = 𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟐 −
3 𝑥−3 𝟑𝒙−𝟐

4. Divide 2𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 − 39 by 2𝑥 − 7 using synthetic division.

7
⇒ 2 7 − 39
2

7 49

2 14 10

10
Temporary Quotient: 2𝑥 + 14 + 7
𝑥−2

1 10 𝟏𝟎
Final Quotient: ( ) (2𝑥 + 14 + 7 )=𝒙+𝟕+
2 𝑥−2 𝟐𝒙−𝟕

Prepared By: Mr. Reiniel Mark A. Sison

Reviewed By: Ms. Angeline A. Relos For Educational Purposes Only