Arithmetic Of Polynomials

Definition of a Polynomial (Vocabulary)

 

Definition:  

A monomial is a number times a power of x:  axn  


Examples

        3x2,      1/2 x7,      and      8 

are all monomials.


Definition:  

A polynomial  is a sum  or difference of monomials


Examples:  

        4x5 - 3x2 - 1,    4x2,    2 

are all polynomials.

The degree of a polynomial is the largest power of x, the leading coefficient is the number in front of the term with the highest power of x, and the constant term is the number without any x's.

Example:  

For the polynomial 

        4x5 - 3x2 - 1 

the degree is 5, the leading coefficient is 4 and the constant term is -1.

Notation:  When we write 

        P(x) = 3x3 - 2x2 +1
we say "P of x"

To evaluate P(1), we find 

        3(1)3 - 2(1)2 + 1  =  2

Addition and Subtraction of Polynomials

To add or subtract polynomials, we just collect like terms:

Example  

Let 

        P(x)  =  x2 + 3x + 5 
and 

        Q(x)  =  4x3 - 2x2 + 3x - 2

Then 

        P(x) - Q(x)  =  (x2 + 3x + 5) - (4x3 - 2x2 + 3x - 2)     
        =  x2 + 3x + 5 - 4x3 + 2x2 - 3x + 2        Distributing the - sign

        =  -4x3 + 3x2 + 7                                    Combining like terms

Exercise

Let 

        P(x)  =  3x2 + 4x - 2 
and 

        Q(x)  =  5x2 - 3x - 5

Find 

        P(x) + Q(x)

        8x^2 + x - 7

FOIL



Consider the multiplication of the following two first degree polynomials:

        (x + 3)(x + 4)  

        = (x + 3)x + (x + 3)4         Distributing the x + 3

        = x2 + 3x + 4x + 12           Distributing the x and the 4

        = x2 + 7x + 12                   Combining like terms

Since this type of multiplication occurs so frequently, we have a systematic approach called

FOIL-  Firsts, Outers, Inners, Lasts.

That is we multiply the first terms, the outer terms, the inner terms, and the last terms and add the four results together.

Examples 

                                        F      O     I      L

  1. (x + 2)(x + 5)  =       x2 +  5x + 2x + 10 = x2 + 7x + 10

  2. (3x - 4)(5x + 2)  = 15x2  + 6x - 20x - 8 = 15x2 - 14x - 8

Exercises:  

Evaluate the following

  1. (x - 2)(3x + 1)                   3x^2 - 5x - 2

  2. (5x + 4)(3x + 2)                15x^2 + 22x + 8

  3. (3x - y)(2x + 3y)               6x^2 +7xy - 3y^2

  4. (x + y)(x - y)                    x^2 - y^2

  5. (x + y)(x + y)                   x^2 + 2xy + y^2

  6. (x - y)(x - y)                     x^2 - 2xy + y^2

 

We will note the special products D, E and F as difference of squares, perfect square of sum, and perfect square of difference.



Special Formulas

  1. (a + b)(a - b) = a2 - b2               Difference of Squares

  2. (a + b)(a + b) = a2 + 2ab + b2    Square of a Sum

  3. (a - b)(a - b) = a2 - 2ab + b2      Square of a Difference



Examples:

  1. (3 - x)(3 + x)  =  9 - x2

  2. (x + 3)2   =  x2 + 6x + 9

  3. (2x - 4)2  =  4x2 - 16x + 16

  4. (x + 2)3  =  (x + 2)2(x + 2)  =  (x2 + 4x + 4)(x + 2) 

    =  (x2 + 4x + 4)x + (x2 + 4x + 4)2

    =  x3  + 4x2 + 4x + 2x2  + 8x + 8  =  x3 + 6x2 + 12x + 8.

General Polynomial Multiplication

 When the polynomials have more than two terms, we must use the distributive property as follows:

 

Example  

        (x3 -3x +1) (x - 3) 

        =  (x3 -3x +1) (x) + (x3 -3x +1) (-3)

        =  x4 - 3x2 + x - 3x3 + 9x - 3

        =  x4 - 3x3 -3x2 + 10x - 3

 

Back to Math 152A Home Page

Back to the Math Department Home

e-mail Questions and Suggestions

 

This site has had Hit Counter visitors since February 26, 2001