CLASS X : CHAPTER - 2
POLYNOMIALS
IMPORTANT FORMULAS & CONCEPTS
An algebraic expression of the form p(x) = a0 + a1x + a2x2 + a3x3 + …………….anxn, where a ≠ 0, is
called a polynomial in variable x of degree n.
Here, a0, a1, a2, a3, ………,an are real numbers and each power of x is a non-negative integer.
e.g. 3x2 – 5x + 2 is a polynomial of degree 2.
3 x 2 is not a polynomial.
If p(x) is a polynomial in x, the highest power of x in p(x) is called the degree of the polynomial
p(x). For example, 4x + 2 is a polynomial in the variable x of degree 1, 2y2 – 3y + 4 is a
polynomial in the variable y of degree 2,
A polynomial of degree 0 is called a constant polynomial.
A polynomial p(x) = ax + b of degree 1 is called a linear polynomial.
A polynomial p(x) = ax2 + bx + c of degree 2 is called a quadratic polynomial.
A polynomial p(x) = ax3 + bx2 + cx + d of degree 3 is called a cubic polynomial.
A polynomial p(x) = ax4 + bx3 + cx2 + dx + e of degree 4 is called a bi-quadratic polynomial.
VALUE OF A POLYNOMIAL AT A GIVEN POINT x = k
If p(x) is a polynomial in x, and if k is any real number, then the value obtained by replacing x by k
in p(x), is called the value of p(x) at x = k, and is denoted by p(k).
ZERO OF A POLYNOMIAL
A real number k is said to be a zero of a polynomial p(x), if p(k) = 0.
Geometrically, the zeroes of a polynomial p(x) are precisely the x-coordinates of the points,
where the graph of y = p(x) intersects the x -axis.
A quadratic polynomial can have at most 2 zeroes and a cubic polynomial can have at most 3
zeroes.
In general, a polynomial of degree ‘n’ has at the most ‘n’ zeroes.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ZEROES & COEFFICIENTS OF POLYNOMIALS
Type of General form No. of Relationship between zeroes and coefficients
Polynomial zeroes
Linear ax + b, a ≠ 0 1 b Constant term
k , i.e. k
a Coefficient of x
2
Quadratic ax + bx + c, a ≠ 0 2 Coefficient of x b
Sum of zeroes ( ) 2
=
Coefficient of x a
Constant term c
Product of zeroes ( ) 2
=
Coefficient of x a
Cubic ax3 + bx2 + cx + d , 3 Coefficient of x 2
b
a≠0 Sum of zeroes ( ) 3
Coefficient of x a
Product of sum of zeroes taken two at a time
Coefficient of x c
( )
Coefficient of x 3 a
Constant term d
Product of zeroes ( ) 3
Coefficient of x a
A quadratic polynomial whose zeroes are and is given by p( x) x 2 ( ) x
i.e. x2 – (Sum of zeroes)x + (Product of zeroes)
A cubic polynomial whose zeroes are , and is given by
p( x) x3 ( ) x 2 ( ) x
The zeroes of a quadratic polynomial ax2 + bx + c, a 0, are precisely the x-coordinates of the points
where the parabola representing y = ax2 + bx + c intersects the x-axis.
In fact, for any quadratic polynomial ax2 + bx + c, a ≠ 0, the graph of the corresponding equation y =
ax2 + bx + c has one of the two shapes either open upwards like or open downwards like
depending on whether a > 0 or a < 0. (These curves are called parabolas.)
The following three cases can be happen about the graph of quadratic polynomial ax2 + bx + c :
Case (i) : Here, the graph cuts x-axis at two distinct points A and A'. The x-coordinates of A and A'
are the two zeroes of the quadratic polynomial ax2 + bx + c in this case
a>0 a<0
Case (ii) : Here, the graph cuts the x-axis at exactly one point, i.e., at two coincident points. So, the
two points A and A′ of Case (i) coincide here to become one point A. The x-coordinate of A is the
only zero for the quadratic polynomial ax2 + bx + c in this case.
a>0 a<0
Case (iii) : Here, the graph is either completely above the x-axis or completely below the x-axis. So,
it does not cut the x-axis at any point. So, the quadratic polynomial ax2 + bx + c has no zero in this
case.
a>0 a<0
DIVISION ALGORITHM FOR POLYNOMIALS
If p(x) and g(x) are any two polynomials with g(x) ≠ 0, then we can find polynomials q(x) and r(x)
such that p(x) = g(x) × q(x) + r(x),
where r(x) = 0 or degree of r(x) < degree of g(x).
If r(x) = 0, then g(x) is a factor of p(x).
Dividend = Divisor × Quotient + Remainder
