Chapter 4

Polynomials:
Operations
4. INTRODUCTION TO POLYNOMIALS

3
a. Evaluate a polynomial for a given value of a
variable.
b. Identify the terms of a polynomial and classify a
polynomial by its number of terms.
c. Identify the coefficient and the degree of each
term of a polynomial and the degree of the
polynomial.
d. Collect the like terms of a polynomial.
e. Arrange a polynomial in descending order, or
collect like terms and then arrange in descending
order.
f. Identify the missing terms of a polynomial.
Monomial
A monomial is an expression of the type axn, where a is
a real number constant and n is a nonnegative integer.

Examples:
3x2 2 2x 3x6 0
Polynomial
A polynomial is a monomial or a combination of
sums and/or differences of monomials.
Examples:
5w + 8, 3x2 + x + 4, x, 0, 75y6
 A polynomial that is composed of two terms is called a
binomial, whereas those composed of three terms are
called trinomials. Polynomials with four or more
terms have no special name.

Monomials Binomials Trinomials None of These

5x2 3x + 4 3x2 + 5x + 9 5x3  6x2 + 2xy  9
8 4a5 + 7bc 7x7  9z3 + 5 a4 + 2a3  a2 + 7a  2
8a23b3 10x3  7 6x2  4x  ½ 6x6  4x5 + 2x4  x3 + 3x  2
The part of a term that is a constant factor is the
coefficient of that term. The coefficient of 4y is 4.

Example Identify the coefficient of each term in the

polynomial. 5x4  8x2y + y  9

Solution
The coefficient of 5x4 is 5.
The coefficient of 8x2y is 8.
The coefficient of y is 1, since y = 1y.
The coefficient of 9 is simply 9.
The degree of a term of the exponent of the variable.

Example
Determine the degree of each term:
a) 9x5 b) 6y c) 9

Solution
a) The degree of 9x5 is 5.
b) The degree of 6y is 1.
c) The degree of 9 is 0.
The degree of the polynomial is the largest of the
degrees of the terms, unless it is a polynomial 0.

Example
Identify the degree of the polynomial.
4x2  9x3 + 6x4 + 8x  7.

Solution
The largest exponent is 4.
The degree of the polynomial is 4.
When terms have the same variable and the variable is
raised to the same power, we say that they are like
terms.
 Example

Combine like terms:

a) 4y4  9y4
b) 7x5 + 9 + 3x2 + 6x2  13  6x5
c) 9w5  7w3 + 11w5 + 2w3
Solution
a) 4y4  9y4 = (4  9)y4 = 5y4

b) 7x5 + 9 + 3x2 + 6x2  13  6x5 = 7x5  6x5 + 3x2 + 6x2 + 9  13

= x5 + 9x2  4
c) 9w5  7w3 + 11w5 + 2w3 = 9w5 + 11w5  7w3 + 2w3
= 20w5  5w3
 Example

Arrange the polynomial in descending order.

7x5 + 5x7 + x2 + 3x3

Solution
7x5 + 5x7 + x2 + 3x3 = 5x7 + 7x5 + 3x3 + x2

We usually arrange polynomials in descending

order, but not always. The opposite order is called
ascending order.
 ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF
4. POLYNOMIALS

4 a. Add polynomials.
b. Simplify the opposite of a polynomial.
c. Subtract polynomials.
d. Use polynomials to represent perimeter
and area.
 Example

Add: (6x3 + 7x  2) + (5x3 + 4x2 + 3).

Solution
(6x3 + 7x  2) + (5x3 + 4x2 + 3)
= (6 + 5)x3 + 4x2 + 7x + (2 + 3)
= x3 + 4x2 + 7x + 1
 Example

Add: 10x5  3x3 + 7x2 + 4 and 6x4  8x2 + 7 and

4x6  6x5 + 2x2 + 6.
Solution
10x5  3x3 + 7x2 + 4
6x4  8x2 + 7
4x6  6x5 + 2x2 + 6
4x6 + 4x5 + 6x4  3x3 + x2 + 17
The answer is 4x6 + 4x5 + 6x4  3x3 + x2 + 17.
 Example

Simplify: (8x4  x343 + 9x2  2x + 72).

Solution
33
(8x  x4 + 9x2  2x + 72)
4

3 3
= 8x +
4
4x  9x2 + 2x  72
Subtraction of Polynomials

We can now subtract one polynomial from another by

adding the opposite of the polynomial being
subtracted.
 Example

(10x5 + 2x3  3x2 + 5)  (3x5 + 2x4  5x3  4x2)

Solution
(10x5 + 2x3  3x2 + 5)  (3x5 + 2x4  5x3  4x2)

= 10x5 + 2x3  3x2 + 5 + 3x5  2x4 + 5x3 + 4x2

= 13x5  2x4 + 7x3 + x2 + 5

 Example

Subtract: (8x5 + 2x3  10x)  (4x5  5x3 + 6).

Solution
(8x5 + 2x3  10x)  (4x5  5x3 + 6)
= 8x5 + 2x3  10x + (4x5) + 5x3  6
= 4x5 + 7x3  10x  6
4. MULTIPLICATION OF POLYNOMIALS

5 a. Multiply monomials.
b. Multiply a monomial and any polynomial.
c. Multiply two binomials.
d. Multiply any two polynomials.
To Multiply Monomials
To find an equivalent expression for the
product of two monomials, multiply the
coefficients and then multiply the
variables using the product rule for
exponents.
 Example
Multiply: a) (6x)(7x) b) (5a)(a) c) (8x6)(3x4)
Solution
a) (6x)(7x) = (6  7) (x  x)
= 42x2
b) (5a)(a) = (5a)(1a)
= (5)(1)(a  a)
= 5a2
c) (8x6)(3x4) = (8  3) (x6  x4)
= 24x6 + 4
= 24x10
Multiplying a Monomial and a
Polynomial
To multiply a monomial and a polynomial,
multiply each term of the polynomial by
the monomial.
 Example

Multiply: 5x2(x3  4x2 + 3x  5)

Solution

5x2(x3  4x2 + 3x  5)
= (5x2)(x3) – (5x2)(4x2) + (5x2)(3x) – (5x2)(5)

= 5x5  20x4 + 15x3  25x2

 Example

Multiply each of the following.

a) x + 3 and x + 5 b) 3x  2 and x  1
Solution

a) (x + 3)(x + 5) = x(x + 5) + 3(x + 5)

=xx+x5+3x+35
= x2 + 5x + 3x + 15
= x2 + 8x + 15
continued
Solution
b) (3x  2)(x  1) = 3x(x – 1)  2(x  1)
= 3x  x  3x  1  2  x  2(1)
= 3x2  3x  2x + 2
= 3x2  5x + 2
Product of Two Polynomials
To multiply two polynomials P and Q,
select one of the polynomials, say P. Then
multiply each term of P by every term of Q
and collect like terms.
 Example

Multiply: (5x3 + x2 + 4x)(x2 + 3x).

Solution
5x3 + x2 + 4x
x2 + 3x
15x4 + 3x3 + 12x2 Multiplying the top row by 3x

5x5 + x4 + 4x3 Multiplying the top row by x2

5x5 + 16x4 + 7x3 + 12x2 Collecting like terms

Line up like terms in columns.

 Example

Multiply: (3x2  4)(2x2  3x + 1).

Solution
2x2  3x + 1
3x2 4
 8x2 + 12x  4 Multiplying by 4

6x4 + 9x3  3x2 Multiplying by 3x2

6x4 + 9x3  11x2 + 12x  4 Collecting like terms

4. SPECIAL PRODUCTS

6 a. Multiply two binomials mentally using the

FOIL method.
b. Multiply the sum and the difference of the
same two terms mentally.
c. Square a binomial mentally.
d. Find special products when polynomial
products are mixed together.
The FOIL Method
To multiply two binomials, A + B and C + D, multiply the
First terms AC, the Outer terms AD, the Inner terms BC, and
then the Last terms BD. Then combine like terms, if
possible.
(A + B)(C + D) = AC + AD + BC + BD
L
Multiply First terms: AC. F
Multiply Outer terms: AD.
Multiply Inner terms: BC (A + B)(C + D)
Multiply Last terms: BD I
O
↓
FOIL
 Example

Multiply: (x + 4)(x2 + 3).

Solution
F L F O I L
(x + 4)(x2 + 3) = x3 + 3x + 4x2 + 12
I = x 3
+ 4x 2
+ 3x + 12
O

The terms are rearranged in descending

order for the final answer.
 Example

Multiply.
a) (x + 8)(x + 5) b) (y + 4) (y  3)
c) (5t3 + 4t)(2t2  1) d) (4  3x)(8  5x3)
Solution
a) (x + 8)(x + 5) = x2 + 5x + 8x + 40
= x2 + 13x + 40
b) (y + 4) (y  3) = y2  3y + 4y  12
= y2 + y  12
continued
Solution
c) (5t3 + 4t)(2t2  1) = 10t5  5t3 + 8t3  4t
= 10t5 + 3t3  4t

d) (4  3x)(8  5x3) = 32  20x3  24x + 15x4

= 32  24x  20x3 + 15x4

In general, if the original binomials are written in ascending

order, the answer is also written that way.
Product of the Sum and
Difference of Two Terms

The product of the sum and difference of the

same two terms is the square of the first term
minus the square of the second term.
(A + B)(A – B) = A2 – B2.
 Example

Multiply.
a) (x + 8)(x  8)
b) (6 + 5w) (6  5w)
c) (4t3  3)(4t3 + 3)
Solution
(A + B)(A  B) = A2  B2
a) (x + 8)(x  8) = x2  82
= x2  64
continued
Solution
b) (6 + 5w) (6  5w) = 62  (5w)2
= 36  25w2

c) (4t3  3)(4t3 + 3) = (4t3)2  32

= 16t6  9
Square of a Binomial

The square of a binomial is the square of the

first term, plus twice the product of the two
terms, plus the square of the last term.
(A + B)2 = A2 + 2AB + B2;

(A – B)2 = A2 – 2AB + B2;

 Example

Multiply.
a) (x + 8)2
b) (y  7)2
c) (4x  3x5)2
Solution
(A + B)2 = A2+2AB + B2
a) (x + 8)2 = x2 + 2x8 + 82
= x2 + 16x + 64
continued (A  B)2 = A2 2AB + B2
Solution
b) (y  7)2 = y2  2  y  7 + 72
= y2  14y + 49

c) (4x  3x5)2 = (4x)2  2  4x  3x5 + (3x5)2

= 16x2  24x6 + 9x10
 Example

Multiply.
a) (x + 5)(x  5) b) (w  7)(w + 4)
c) (x + 9)(x + 9) d) 3x2(4x2 + x  2)
e) (p + 2)(p2 + 3p  2) f) (2x + 1)2

Solution
a) (x + 5)(x  5) = x2  25
b) (w  7)(w + 4) = w2 + 4w  7w  28
= w2  3w  28
continued
c) (x + 9)(x + 9) = x2 + 18x + 81

d) 3x2(4x2 + x  2) = 12x4 + 3x3  6x2

e) p2 + 3p  2
p+2
2p2 + 6p  4
p3 + 3p2  2p
p3 + 5p2 + 4p  4
continued
f) (2x + 1)2 = 4x2 + 2(2x)(1) + 1
= 4x2 + 4x + 1
 OPERATIONS WITH POLYNOMIALS IN
4. SEVERAL VARIABLES

7 for given values of the variables.

a. Evaluate a polynomial in several variables

b. Identify the coefficients and the degrees of

the terms of a polynomial and the degree
of a polynomial.
c. Collect like terms of a polynomial.
d. Add polynomials.
e. Subtract polynomials.
f. Multiply polynomials.
 Example

Evaluate the polynomial 5 + 4x + xy2 + 9x3y2

for x = 3 and y = 4.

Solution
We substitute 3 for x and 4 for y:
5 + 4x + xy2 + 9x3y2
= 5 + 4(3) + (3)(42) + 9(3)3(4)2
= 5  12  48  3888
= 3943
Recall that the degree of a monomial is the number of
variable factors in the term.
Example Identify the coefficient and the degree of
each term and the degree of the polynomial
10x3y2  15xy3z4 + yz + 5y + 3x2 + 9.

Term Coefficient Degree Degree of the

Polynomial
10x3y2 10 5
15xy3z4 15 8
yz 1 2 8
5y 5 1
3x2 3 2
9 9 0
Like Terms
Like, or similar terms either have exactly the
same variables with exactly the same exponents
or are constants.
For example,
9w5y4 and 15w5y4 are like terms
and
12 and 14 are like terms,
but
6x2y and 9xy3 are not like terms.
 Example

Collect like terms.

a) 10x2y + 4xy3  6x2y  2xy3
b) 8st  6st2 + 4st2 + 7s3 + 10st  12s3 + t  2
Solution
a) 10x2y + 4xy3  6x2y  2xy3
= (10 6)x2y + (42)xy3
= 4x2y + 2xy3
b) 8st  6st2 + 4st2 + 7s3 + 10st  12s3 + t  2
= 5s3  2st2 + 18st + t  2
Example

Add: (6x3 + 4y  6y2) + (7x3 + 5x2 + 8y2).

Solution
(6x3 + 4y  6y2) + (7x3 + 5x2 + 8y2)
= (6 + 7)x3 + 5x2 + 4y + (6 + 8)y2
= x3 + 5x2 + 4y + 2y2
 Example

Subtract:
(5x2y + 2x3y2 + 4x2y3 + 7y)  (5x2y  7x3y2 + x2y2  6y).

Solution
(5x2y + 2x3y2 + 4x2y3 + 7y)  (5x2y  7x3y2 + x2y2  6y)
= 5x2y + 2x3y2 + 4x2y3 + 7y  5x2y + 7x3y2  x2y2 + 6y
= 9x3y2 + 4x2y3  x2y2 + 13y
 Example

Multiply: (4x2y  3xy + 4y)(xy + 3y).

Solution
4x2y  3xy + 4y
xy + 3y
12x2y2  9xy2 + 12y2
4x3y2  3x2y2 + 4xy2
4x3y2 + 9x2y2  5xy2 + 12y2
4. DIVISION OF POLYNOMIALS

8 a. Divide a polynomial by a
monomial.
b. Divide a polynomial by a divisor
that is a binomial.
 Example

12 x 2 x12 54a 3b 6
Divide: a. b. 3 c. 2 3
4x 6x  6a b

Solution2
12 x x12 54a 3b 6
a. b. 3 c.
4x 6x  6a 2b 3
12 x 2 1 x12 54 a 3 b 6
    3   23
4 x 6 x 6 a b
3x 2 1 1 12 9
 x  9a 3 2b 6 3
6
3x
1 9  9ab3
 x
6
 Example
5 4 3 2 2 2
Divide. 21a b  14a b  7a b  7a b

Solution
21a 5b 4  14a 3b 2  7a 2b 21a 5b 4 14a 3b 2 7a 2b
2
  
 7a b  7 a b  7 a b  7 a 2b
2 2

21 5 2 4 1  14  3 2 2 1  7 
 a b   a b  
7  7  7

 3a 3b3  2ab  1