Virtual Learning Environment
By LDH Zale
Math 111
Polynomials
AC
At the end of this module, the student
should be able to:
Describe polynomial vocabulary through examples
Recall the processes in long multiplication, division
and synthetic division of polynomials
Simplify polynomials by employing the order of
operations in grouping symbols in addition
and subtraction of polynomials.
Simplify polynomials by utilizing the laws on
exponents in multiplication and division of
polynomials
Apply and solve polynomials in a problem
7/7/2014
College Algebra @NEU-LDH
Polynomials
SUB-TOPICS
Definition of algebraic terms
Polynomial vocabulary
Addition and Subtraction of Polynomials
Properties of Exponents
Multiplication and Division of Polynomials
Applications of Polynomials
Assessment Questions
Introduction
A spline is a long strip of wood that is curved while held
fixed at certain points. In the old days, shipbuilders used
splines to create the curved shape of the boats hull.
Mathematicians discovered that the shapes of the splines
can be obtained by piecing together parts of polynomials.
For example, the graph of a cubic polynomial can be made
to fit specified points by adjusting the coefficients of the
polynomial. Curves obtained in this way are called cubic
splines. In modern computer design programs, a curve can
be drawn by fixing two points, then using the mouse to drag
one or more anchor points. Moving the anchor points
amounts to adjusting the coefficients of a cubic polynomial.
Extracted from Stewarts Algebra and Trigonometry pp 302
4
7/7/2014
For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET
In algebra, a letter is usually used to represent a number. Lets define
some algebraic terms;
Variable a quantity with more than one possible value
Constant a quantity with only one possible value
Numerical coefficient a constant factor in any term
Literal coefficient a variable factor in any term
Algebraic expression - a variable, or a combination of a variable and
constants involving a finite number of indicted fundamental
operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication,
division, exponentiation and extraction of roots.
Degree of a monomial- the exponent of the variable
Polynomial if all the exponents of variable in a multinomial are nonnegative integers
Degree of Polynomial the degree of its term with the highest degree
linear (1st degree), quadratic (2nd degree), cubic (3rd degree)
For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET
Examples of algebraic expressions:
1.
2.
3.
-2x3y5
4.
5x2 -y5 +2
5.
3x -2y-5
6.
x3 -2x + 5
x +8
Which item/s is a
polynomial?
And
which is not?
What is the degree of
each polynomial?
Only one term, monomial involving a single variable
Only one term, monomial involving a constant
Only one term, monomial involving a constant and
2 variables or literal coefficients, degree is 8
Three terms, trinomial with 5 as the leading
coefficient and 5x2 as the leading term.
Two terms, binomial???
A quotient of 2 polynomials, rational expression,
Is this algebraic expression a polynomial???
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A Polynomial can have :
Constants (like 4, -2, or 1/3)
Variables (like x, and y)
Exponents (like the 3 in x3 ) but only 0,1,2,3,.etc (non-negative)
That can be combined using:
+
addition,
subtraction, and
x
multiplication [Link] not division!
These rules keeps polynomials simple, so they are easy to work with!
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Polynomial or Not??
Exponents: any non-negative integer
5xy2 - 3x + 5y3 - 3
terms
2
x+2
5xy-2
Not a polynomial
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These are polynomials
3x
x-2
-6y2 n (1/2) z
xyz + 4x2yz3 0.5 xz 200x +
213 x24 + 100v2
5
(Yes, even 5 is a polynomial, it has one term which just
happens to be a constant)
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And these are not polynomials:
2/(x+2) because dividing is not allowed
1/x is not because x has a negative exponent
3xy-2 for the same reason as stated from previous example
x because the exponent of x is 1/2 . x should have a positive integer exponent
But these are polynomials:
x/2 because it is also the same as x
3x/8 for the same reason above
2 because it is a constant
Monomial, Binomial, Trinomial
3xy2
3x-2
3x -2x2- 4
Monomial (1 term)
Binomial (2 terms)
Trinomial (3 terms)
For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET
Degree
The degree of a polynomial with only one variable is the largest exponent of that
variable.
Example: 4x3 x + 3 The degree is 3 (the largest exponent of x)
Standard Form
The standard form for writing a polynomial is to put the terms with the highest
degree first
Example: Put this in standard form 3x3 2x2 + -6 + 3x4
The highest degree is 4, so that goes first, then 3, 2 and then the
constant last:
3x4 + 3x3 2x2 -6
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Addition and Subtraction of
Polynomials
Field axioms of real numbers apply to the terms
of the polynomial
Only similar terms could be added (add their
numerical coefficients)
To remove a grouping symbol, (),[],{}, preceded
by,
a minus sign, change the sign of each term
factor, use distributive law
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#1 Simplify:
m + [2m 3(2m 5n) 2m]
Distribute -3 to each term in (2m-5n)
= m+ [2m 6m + 15 n -2m]
Combine like terms in the grouping
= m+[-6m + 15n]
Remove the grouping and combine like terms
= -5m +15n (answer)
For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET
#2 Simplify:
3(2s-3t)-[s-t-(s+t)]
By Distributive Law
= 6s-9t-[s-t-s-t]
Combine like terms in the grouping
= 6s-9t-[-2t]
Remove the grouping and combine like terms
= 6s-7t (answer)
For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET
#3. Arranging polynomials in column
Subtract: x3y 4x2y2+ 5y4 from the sum of
2x3y + 3x2y2 -xy3 and -5x2y2+ 6xy3+ 2y4
Step 1:
2x3y + 3x2y2 -xy3
(+)
-5x2y2+ 6xy3+ 2y4
2x3y -2x2y2+ 5xy3+ 2y4
Step 2:
2x3y -2x2y2+ 5xy3+ 2y4
(-) x3y 4x2y2
+ 5y4
x3y +2x2y2+ 5xy3 - 3y4 (answer)
For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET
Laws of Exponents
1.
an am = an+m
2. (an )m =
anm
3. (ab )n = anbn
4. (a/b )n =
an/bn
an-m If n>m
5.
If n=m
1/am-n If n<m
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Multiplication of Polynomials
Simplify -3x3 (4x2 x +10)
To do this, I have to distribute the -3x through the parentheses:
-3x3 (4x2 x +10) = -3x3 (4x2) 3x3 (-x) - 3x3 (10)
= -12x5 + 3x4 30x3
Simplify x3n+1 (4x2n xn-4 )
To do this, I have to distribute the x3n+1 through the
parentheses:
x3n+1 (4x2n xn-4 ) = x3n+1 (-4x2n) x3n+1(-xn-4)
= 4x5n+1 + x4n-3
For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET
Simplify (x+3)(x+2)
By distributive property, of by FOIL method, take
each of the terms in the first parenthesis
throught each of the terms in the second
parenthesis
Or by FOIL method
(x+3)(x+2)
(x+3)(x+2) = x +2x
= (x+3)(x) + (x+3)(2)
+3x +6
= x(x) + 3(x) + x(2) + 3(2)
= x + 5x +6
2
= x +3x +2x+6
= x2+ 5x +6
2
For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET
Or multiplying vertically,
For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET
Simplify (4x2 -4x-7)(x+3)
Painful process, isnt it?? Ill do it vertically..
For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET
For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET
For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET
Division of Polynomials
Find the indicated quotient
8x3 24 x 5
1. --------------4x2
8x3
24 x5
= ------ - ------4x2
4x2
Using law of exponent
an-m
= 2x 6x3
= 2x (1-3x2) answer
2. (a3 +3 a 3a2 ) (a 2) by long division
a2 -a -3
a 2 /a3 3a2 a +3
3
2
(-)a (+)-2a
0 - a2
2 +2a
a
(+)
(-)
Rewrite and arrange in standard form
0 3a +3
(+)
3a(-)+6
0
-3 (remainder)
hence, the quotient is (a2 a 3) - 3/(a-2)
For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET
Use synthetic division: (6x3 11x2 + 2) divided by (3x-1).
Write the result in Q + R/D form
6 11 + 0 + 2 1/3
2 -3
-1
6 - 9 - 3 +1
Make sure the expression is arranged in standard form
then write the numerical coefficient. Leave a space for
the gaps in the degrees of polynomial terms or write zero.
Equate 3x-1 = 0 , and solve for x, we find x=1/3
The obtained numbers are the numerical coefficient
of the quotient. The polynomial obtained is of one degree
lower than the dividend.
hence, answer is (6x2 9x 3) + 1/(3x-1)
Check by multiplication using distributive property :
[(6x2 9x 3) + 1/(3x-1)] (3x-1)
= 18 x3 27x2 9x -6x2 + 9x + 3 + 1
= (18 x3 33x2 +3) + 1
(divide the trinomial by 3)
= 6x3 11x2 + 2
(answer)
For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET
Assessment:
1. The following are polynomials EXCEPT
a. 3 x + 3y
c. 4x/(y-1)
b. x 2y
d. x/3 y/5
2. The degree of the second term in 5x4 y6 - 10x5 y7+4x2 y6 is
a. 12
c. 7
b. 5
d. 10
3. To simplify {2x-y-[3x-(4x+y-3)-y]-7}, the answer is
a. x+y+10
c. x-y+10
b.3x-y+10
d. 3x+y+10
4. The answer to : Add (x 3 + 5x 2 -3) to the difference when (-3x2 + x +2 ) is subtracted
from (1- 2x 3x3 ) is
a. - 2x3 +8x2 -3x 4
c. 4x3 +2x2 +3x 2
b. x3 +5x2 +3x 2
d. 2x3 -8x2 +3x - 4
5 . The following are polynomials EXCEPT
a. 3/2
c. 4x/y
b. 3x 2y-2
d. 2x/3 + 3y/5
6. The degree of the polynomial 7x2 y4 - 15x2 y5+14x8 y is
a. 8
c. 6
b. 9
d. 7
For useThis
in College
file is exclusively
Algebra atfor
NEU-CET
Math 171 class by LDH
25
Assessment:
7. The simplified form of the expression 2x+ 5(y-4x)-7[2(3x-4y)-4(-2x-6y)]is
a. -116x 107 y
c. -4x +54y
b. -116x 117 y
d. -4x+68y
8. If we subtract the sum of the second and third expressions from the first of
3x-2y+8z, 12x y -10z, 3x-y+7z, the answer is
a. -12x +11z
b. 12x +11z
c. -12x -11z
d. 12x - 11z
9. The following are polynomials EXCEPT
a. 3/2y
c. 4x2/y4
b. 3x 2 y
d. 2x/3 + y/2
10. The simplified form of the expression 2{p q [3p r (2p + 1) + 3pr] -2r} is
a. 2p +pq +2qr - 2pqr +r
c. 2p 6pq +2qr - 2pqr -4r
b. p pq +qr - pqr r
d. 2p +pq -4qr - pqr -4r
11. The product of 3a2b3 (2a 3a3b2 b5) is
a. a3b3 + 9a5b5 3a2b8
b. 6a3b3 9a5b5 + 3a2b8
c. a3b3 a5b5 a2b8
d. 6a3b3 9a5b5 3a2b8
12. The product of (4x2+9)(2x-3)(2x+3) is
a. 16x4+81
b. 16x4-81
c. 16x4+72x2+81
d. 16x4-72x2 +81
26
For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET
13. The following are polynomials EXCEPT
a. 3
b. 2 2y
c. 4x-3 /(y-1)
d. x/3 y/5
14. The simplified form of m + [2m 3(2m 5n) 2m] is
a. -5m +15n
c. 5m +15n
b. -5m -15n
d. -5m -5n
15. The simplified form of -3x (x+1) + 2x2 (5x-2) x3 (2x-3) is
a. -2x4 +13x3 + 7x2 + 3x
c. 2x4 -13x3 7x2 3x
b. -2x4 +13x3 7x2 3x
d. x4 +13x3 7x2 3x
16. When 7x3m-1 y4n+4 is multiplied by 5x3 y4 the product is
a. 35x9m-3 y16n+16
c. 35x6m-1 y8n+4
b. 35x3m-+2y4n+8
d. 35x3m-3 y4n+16
27
For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET
These questions are of low and medium level of cognitive
complexity to measure the learning of the students after the
discussion. When you score below 12 points, you should review
this topic and understand the concept of Polynomials before
proceeding to solve questions/exercises of higher level of
cognitive complexity.
Developed by LDH for use in Math111@NEU-CET
References:
Acelajado, [Link], Algebra Concepts and Processes, 3rd ed. 2005
Bellman, Bragg, Chapin, Gardella, Hall, Handlin, Sr., Manfre, Algebra, 2005
Stewart, Redlin, Watson, Algebra and Trigonometry, 2nd ed. 2007
Kaufmann, Schwitters, Intermediate Algebra, 2010
7/7/2014
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For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET
