1.

4 • Polynomials 51

The area of the front of the library can be found by adding the areas of the square and the triangle, and then subtracting
the area of the rectangle. When we do this, we get or ft2.

In this section, we will examine expressions such as this one, which combine several variable terms.

Identifying the Degree and Leading Coefficient of Polynomials

The formula just found is an example of a polynomial, which is a sum of or difference of terms, each consisting of a
variable raised to a nonnegative integer power. A number multiplied by a variable raised to an exponent, such as
is known as a coefficient. Coefficients can be positive, negative, or zero, and can be whole numbers, decimals, or
fractions. Each product such as is a term of a polynomial. If a term does not contain a variable, it is called
a constant.

A polynomial containing only one term, such as is called a monomial. A polynomial containing two terms, such as
is called a binomial. A polynomial containing three terms, such as is called a trinomial.

We can find the degree of a polynomial by identifying the highest power of the variable that occurs in the polynomial.
The term with the highest degree is called the leading term because it is usually written first. The coefficient of the
leading term is called the leading coefficient. When a polynomial is written so that the powers are descending, we say
that it is in standard form.

Polynomials

A polynomial is an expression that can be written in the form

Each real number ai is called a coefficient. The number that is not multiplied by a variable is called a constant.
Each product is a term of a polynomial. The highest power of the variable that occurs in the polynomial is called
the degree of a polynomial. The leading term is the term with the highest power, and its coefficient is called the
leading coefficient.

...
HOW TO

Given a polynomial expression, identify the degree and leading coefficient.

1. Find the highest power of x to determine the degree.

2. Identify the term containing the highest power of x to find the leading term.
3. Identify the coefficient of the leading term.

EXAMPLE 1

Identifying the Degree and Leading Coefficient of a Polynomial

For the following polynomials, identify the degree, the leading term, and the leading coefficient.

ⓐ ⓑ ⓒ
Solution
ⓐ The highest power of x is 3, so the degree is 3. The leading term is the term containing that degree, The
leading coefficient is the coefficient of that term,
ⓑ The highest power of t is so the degree is The leading term is the term containing that degree, The
leading coefficient is the coefficient of that term,
52 1 • Prerequisites

ⓒ The highest power of p is so the degree is The leading term is the term containing that degree, The
leading coefficient is the coefficient of that term,

TRY IT #1 Identify the degree, leading term, and leading coefficient of the polynomial

Adding and Subtracting Polynomials

We can add and subtract polynomials by combining like terms, which are terms that contain the same variables raised to
the same exponents. For example, and are like terms, and can be added to get but and are not
like terms, and therefore cannot be added.

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HOW TO

Given multiple polynomials, add or subtract them to simplify the expressions.

1. Combine like terms.

2. Simplify and write in standard form.

EXAMPLE 2

Adding Polynomials
Find the sum.

Solution

Analysis
We can check our answers to these types of problems using a graphing calculator. To check, graph the problem as given
along with the simplified answer. The two graphs should be equivalent. Be sure to use the same window to compare the
graphs. Using different windows can make the expressions seem equivalent when they are not.

TRY IT #2 Find the sum.

EXAMPLE 3

Subtracting Polynomials
Find the difference.

Solution

Analysis
Note that finding the difference between two polynomials is the same as adding the opposite of the second polynomial

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 1.4 • Polynomials 53

to the first.

TRY IT #3 Find the difference.

Multiplying Polynomials
Multiplying polynomials is a bit more challenging than adding and subtracting polynomials. We must use the distributive
property to multiply each term in the first polynomial by each term in the second polynomial. We then combine like
terms. We can also use a shortcut called the FOIL method when multiplying binomials. Certain special products follow
patterns that we can memorize and use instead of multiplying the polynomials by hand each time. We will look at a
variety of ways to multiply polynomials.

Multiplying Polynomials Using the Distributive Property

To multiply a number by a polynomial, we use the distributive property. The number must be distributed to each term of
the polynomial. We can distribute the in to obtain the equivalent expression When multiplying
polynomials, the distributive property allows us to multiply each term of the first polynomial by each term of the second.
We then add the products together and combine like terms to simplify.

...
HOW TO

Given the multiplication of two polynomials, use the distributive property to simplify the expression.

1. Multiply each term of the first polynomial by each term of the second.
2. Combine like terms.
3. Simplify.

EXAMPLE 4

Multiplying Polynomials Using the Distributive Property

Find the product.

Solution

Analysis
We can use a table to keep track of our work, as shown in Table 1. Write one polynomial across the top and the other
down the side. For each box in the table, multiply the term for that row by the term for that column. Then add all of the
terms together, combine like terms, and simplify.

Table 1
54 1 • Prerequisites

Table 1

TRY IT #4 Find the product.

Using FOIL to Multiply Binomials

A shortcut called FOIL is sometimes used to find the product of two binomials. It is called FOIL because we multiply the
first terms, the outer terms, the inner terms, and then the last terms of each binomial.

The FOIL method arises out of the distributive property. We are simply multiplying each term of the first binomial by
each term of the second binomial, and then combining like terms.

...
HOW TO

Given two binomials, use FOIL to simplify the expression.

1. Multiply the first terms of each binomial.

2. Multiply the outer terms of the binomials.
3. Multiply the inner terms of the binomials.
4. Multiply the last terms of each binomial.
5. Add the products.
6. Combine like terms and simplify.

EXAMPLE 5

Using FOIL to Multiply Binomials

Use FOIL to find the product.

Solution
Find the product of the first terms.

Find the product of the outer terms.

Find the product of the inner terms.

Find the product of the last terms.

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 1.4 • Polynomials 55

TRY IT #5 Use FOIL to find the product.

Perfect Square Trinomials

Certain binomial products have special forms. When a binomial is squared, the result is called a perfect square
trinomial. We can find the square by multiplying the binomial by itself. However, there is a special form that each of
these perfect square trinomials takes, and memorizing the form makes squaring binomials much easier and faster. Let’s
look at a few perfect square trinomials to familiarize ourselves with the form.

Notice that the first term of each trinomial is the square of the first term of the binomial and, similarly, the last term of
each trinomial is the square of the last term of the binomial. The middle term is double the product of the two terms.
Lastly, we see that the first sign of the trinomial is the same as the sign of the binomial.

Perfect Square Trinomials

When a binomial is squared, the result is the first term squared added to double the product of both terms and the
last term squared.

...
HOW TO

Given a binomial, square it using the formula for perfect square trinomials.

1. Square the first term of the binomial.

2. Square the last term of the binomial.
3. For the middle term of the trinomial, double the product of the two terms.
4. Add and simplify.

EXAMPLE 6

Expanding Perfect Squares

Expand

Solution
Begin by squaring the first term and the last term. For the middle term of the trinomial, double the product of the two
terms.

Simplify.