CHAPTER 6

POLYNOMIALS

6.1 POLYNOMIALS

6.2 REMAINDER THEOREM,

FACTOR THEOREM &
ZEROS OF POLYNOMIAL

6.3 PARTIAL FRACTIONS

1
2
At the end of the lesson, students should be able:

a) To perform addition, subtraction and

multiplication of polynomials.
b) To perform division of polynomials and write
the answer in the form P(x) = Q(x)∙D(x) +
R(x), where the divisor can be linear or
quadratic.
3
 6.1 POLYNOMIALS

A polynomial P(x) of degree n is an

algebraic expression of the form

P(x) = anxn + an-1 xn-1 +………….+ a1x + ao

where n is a positive integer and an , an -1 ,…,

ao are constant and an ≠ 0.

4
The following are examples of polynomials :

(a) P(x) = 2x + 5

(b) P(x) = 3x 2 + 7

(c) P(x) = x 3 – x 2 + 2x + 1

(d) P(x) = x 4 – 5x 2 + 6

Note: The indices (n) is a positive integer 5

 The following are not polynomials :
1
(a) P( x)  x 2  x  2
is same as x−1
1 3
(b) P( x)   2 x
x

3 2
(c) P( x)  x  x  8 x  1
Note: The indices (n) cannot be a fraction or negative integer
6
P(x) = anxn +an-1 xn-1+………….+a1x+ao

Notes :
(1) an,an -1,…,ao are called the coefficients.
(2) an is called the leading coefficient.
(3) ao is called the constant term.
(4) The degree of the polynomial (n) is determined
by the highest power of x.

7
 For example :
Polynomials Degree Name Leading Constant
coefficient term
P(x) = 3 0 Constant 3 3

P(x) = 2x + 5 1 Linear 2 5

P(x) = 3x2 + 7 2 Quadratic 3 7

P(x) = x3  x2 + 6 3 Cubic 1 6

P(x) = x4 + 3x  5 4 Quartic 1 5

8
 Monomials, Binomials and Trinomials

(a) Polynomials with one term is called monomials.

(b) Polynomials with two terms are called binomials.
(c) Polynomials with three terms are called trinomials.

Example :

Monomials Binomials Trinomials

5 x+7 5x2 + 2x – 1
x 2x3 – x x3 + x – 7
4x2 x2 +1 2x4 + 7x + 6 9
How about the other expressions
with more than one variable ?

EXAMPLE (a) 3yz2

(b) 2y2 – 7z
(c) 3x2 – xy + 2y3

10
 monomials
(a) 3yz2

binomials
(b) 2y2 – 7z
trinomials
(c) 3x2 – xy + 2y3

They are also polynomials, but in this

chapter we will only discuss polynomials of
one variable.
11
 Algebraic Operation on Polynomials
Adding and Subtracting Polynomials
To add two polynomials, add the like terms.

EXAMPLE 1:
3 2 2
Simplify (3x  5 x  7)  (4 x  2 x  3)
Solution :
It can be written as:
3x3  5 x 2  0 x  7 Line up like
terms
 4x2  2x  3
3 2 12
3x  x  2 x  4
 Algebraic Operation on Polynomials
Adding and Subtracting Polynomials

To subtract two polynomials, subtract the like terms

EXAMPLE 2:
4 3 3 2
Simplify ( x  5 x  x  4)  ( 2 x  3 x  6 x  1)

Solution :

It can be written as:

x 4  5 x3  0 x 2  x  4 Line up like
terms
 2 x3  3x 2  6 x  1

x 4  7 x3  3x 2  5 x  5 13
 Algebraic Operation on Polynomials
Multiplying Polynomials

Note that every term in one polynomial is multiplied by every

term in the other. e.g. :

P(x) = 5x2 + 2x – 1
2P(x) = 2(5x2 + 2x – 1)
= 2(5x2)+ 2(2x) –2(1)
= 10x2 + 4x – 2

14
EXAMPLE 3:

Given P(x) = 3x3 – 2x + 4 and Q(x) = x² – 3. Find

(a)3P(x)
(b)P(x)Q(x)

Solution :

a) 3P(x) = 3(3x3– 2x + 4)

= 3(3x3) – 3(2x) + 3(4)

= 9x3– 6x + 12

15
EXAMPLE 3:

Given P(x) = 3x3 – 2x + 4 and Q(x) = x² – 3. Find

(a)3P(x)
(b)P(x)Q(x)

Solution :

b) P(x)Q(x) = (3x3 – 2x + 4)(x² – 3)

= (3x3)(x2) – (3x3)(3) – (2x)(x2)+(2x)(3) + (4)(x2) – (4)(3)

= 3x5– 9x3 – 2x3 + 6x + 4x2 – 12

= 3x5– 11x3 + 4x2 + 6x – 12

16
 Algebraic Operation on Polynomials
Division of Polynomials

In the division of integer,

32 5
 3 
9 9

• the quotient is 3
• the remainder is 5
• the divisor is 9

17
 32 5
 3 
9 9
The statement could be expressed as:
32 = (3)(9) + 5
= (quotient)(divisor) + remainder

In the same way, the division of polynomials can be expressed in

the form

P x   Q x  D x   R x 

• the degree of P(x) ≥ degree of D(x)

18
Thus, the division of polynomials can be done using long division.

P x  R x 
 Q x   where
D x  D x 

P(x) – a polynomial
D(x) – divisor
Q(x) – quotient
R(x) - remainder

19
EXAMPLE 4:

Find the quotient and remainder for 2 x3  x 2  1

x 1

Solution :

Since the coefficient of x is 0, the polynomial can be

written as
2 x3  x 2  0 x  1

20
Solution
Quotient

2x 2  3 x  3
x  1 2 x3  x 2  0 x  1
(-) 2 x3  2 x 2
 3x 2  0 x
(-)  3 x 2  3 x
3x  1
(-) 3 x  3
2

Remainder
21
The quotient, Q(x) is 2x2 – 3x + 3

The remainder, R(x) is 2

Standard form:

P x   Q x  D x   R x 

2
2 x 3  x 2  1  (2 x  3x  3) ( x  1)  2

22
EXAMPLE 5:

Divide x3 + 2x2 – x + 1 by (x + 3)

x 2 x  2
x  3 x3  2 x 2  x  1
(-) x 3  3x 2
 x2  x
2
(-)  x  3 x
2x 1
(-) 2 x  6
5

23
Standard form:

P x   Q x  D x   R x 

x3  2 x 2  x  1 2 5
 ( x  x  2) 
x3 x3

x 3  2 x 2  x  1  ( x 2  x  2)( x  3)  5

24
EXAMPLE 6:

Divide 4x4 – 5x2 + 2x – 10 by (2x – 3)

Solution :

Since the coefficient of x3 is 0, the polynomial can be

written as

4 x 4  0 x 3  5 x 2  2 x  10

25
 2x 3  3x 2  2 x  4

2 x  3 4 x 4  0 x 3  5 x 2  2 x  10
(-) 4 x 4  6 x 3
6 x3  5 x 2
(-) 6 x 3  9 x 2
4x2  2x
(-) 4 x 2  6 x
8 x  10
(-) 8 x  12
2

26
Standard form:

P x   Q x  D x   R x 

P( x)  (2 x3  3x 2  2 x  4)(2 x  3)  2

27
EXAMPLE 7:

Divide 6x4 + 11x3  7x2  8x + 4 by (x2 + 3x + 2)

Solution :

6x 2  7 x  2
x 2  3 x  2 6 x 4  11x 3  7 x 2  8 x  4
() 6 x 4  18 x3  12 x 2
 7 x 3  19 x 2  8 x

()  7 x 3  21x 2  14 x

2x2  6x  4
() 2x2  6x  4
28
0
Standard form:

P x   Q x  D x   R x 

  
P x   6 x 4  11x 3  7 x 2  8 x  4 x 2  3x  2  0

 
P x   6 x 4  11x 3  7 x 2  8 x  4 x 2  3x  2 

29
 EXERCISE

Perform the following by using long division.

(a) P( x)  3x 3  2 x 2  4 x  7, D( x)  x 2  2 x

(b) P( x)  x 4  3x 2  2 x  4, D( x)  x  1

(c) P( x)  3 x 5  4 x 2  12 x  17, D( x)  x 3  2 x 2  2

ANSWER
(a) P( x)  (3 x  8)( x 2  2 x)  20 x  7

(b) P( x)  ( x 3  x 2  2 x)( x  1)  4

(c) P( x)  (3 x 2  6 x  12)( x 3  2 x 2  2)  14 x 2  24 x  7 30