Worksheet on Addition of Polynomials

Search

Practice the questions given in the worksheet on addition of polynomials. The

questions are based on arranging the expressions to find the sum of monomials,
binomials, trinomials and polynomials.

1. Arrange and add the monomials:

(i) –8abc and 10abc

(ii) 5x2yz2 and 9x2yz2

(iii) -6z7, and 5z7

2. Arrange and add the binomials:

(i) 2p + 3q and 7p + 8q

(ii) 14x -3y and -5x + 11y

(iii) 2x2y and -8x2y

3. Arrange and add the trinomials:

(i) 4x + 5y – 3z and 9x – 6y + 4z

(ii)3x2 + 4xy + 5y2 and 9y2 – 10x2 – 6xy

(iii) 14xy + 17yz + 13xz and 8xy – 15yz + 12xz

Now we will proceed from basic to intricate problems on arranging and adding
polynomials provided in the worksheet on addition of polynomials.

4. Find the sum of:

(i) 3x2 – 2xy + 4y2 and – x2 + 4xy – 2y2

(ii) 3p + 4q + 7r, -5p + 3q – 6r and 4p – 2q – 4r

(iii) 2a2 + ab - b2, -a2 + 2ab + 3b2 and 3a2 – 10ab + 4b2

(iv) k2 – k + 1, -5k2 + 2k – 2 and 3k2 – 3k + 1

(v) x2 – xy + yz, 2xy + yz – 2x2 and -3yz + 3x2 + xy

(vi) 4u2 + 7 – 3u, 4u – u2 + 8 and -10 + 5u – 2u2

5. Add the following expressions:

(i) 3xyz + 4yz + 5zx, 7xz – 6yz + 4xyz and -9xyz – 11zy + 9xz

(ii) x3 – 2y3 + x, y3 – 2x3 + y and -2y + 2y3 – 5x + 4x3

(iii) 7p2 – 4p2q + 8q2, 5q2 – 2p2 + 6p2q and 3p2q + 10p2

(iv) 9x2 – 7x + 5, -14x2 – 6 + 15x and 20x2 + 40x - 17

(v) –m2 – 3mn + 3n2 + 8, 3m2 – 5n2 – 3 + 4mn and -6mn + 2m2 – 2 + n2

6. If P = a2 – 2bc + b2, Q = -b2 + bc – c2 and R = c2 + cb + a2 then, find the

value of P + Q + R.

Answers for the worksheet on addition of polynomials are given below to check
the exact answers of the above addition.

Answers:
1. (i) 2abc

(ii) 14x2yz2

(iii) -z7

2. (i) 9p + 11q

(ii) 9x + 8y

(iii) -6x2y

3. (i) 13x - y +z

(ii) -7x2 - 2xy + 14y2

(iii) 22xy + 2yz + 25xz

4. (i) 2x2 + 2xy + 2y2

(ii) 2p + 5q – 3r

(iii) 4a2 – 7ab + 6b2

(iv) –k2 – 2k

(v) 2x2 + 2xy - yz

(vi) u2 + 6u + 5

5. (i) -2xyz – 13yz + 21xz

(ii) 3x3 + y3 – 4x – y

(iii) 15p2 + 5p2q + 13q2

(iv) 15x2 – 32x – 18

(v) 4m2 – 5mn – n2

6. 0

Operations with Polynomials

Learning Objective(s)
 Add polynomials with more than one variable.
 Subtract polynomials with more than one variable.
 Multiply polynomials with more than one variable.
 Divide polynomials with more than one variable.

Introduction

Just as you can perform the four operations on polynomials with one variable, you can add,
subtract, multiply, and divide polynomials with more than one variable. The process is exactly
the same, but you have more variables to keep track of. When you are adding and subtracting
polynomials with more than one variable, you have to pay particular care to combining like
terms only. When you multiply and divide, you also need to pay particular attention to the
multiple variables and terms. You can multiply and divide terms that aren’t like, but to add and
subtract terms they must be like terms.

Adding Polynomials with More Than One Variable

To add polynomials, you first need to identify the like terms in the polynomials and then combine
them according to the correct integer operations. Since like terms must have the same exact
variables raised to the same exact power, identifying them in polynomials with more than one
variable takes a careful eye. Sometimes parentheses are used to distinguish between the
addition of two polynomials and the addition of a collection of monomials. With addition, you can
simply remove the parentheses and perform the addition.

Example
Problem Add. (4x2 – 12xy + 9y2) + (25x2 + 4xy – 32y2)
4x2 +(−12xy) + 9y2 + 25x2 + 4xy + (−32y2) Remove the parentheses
grouping the polynomial
and rewrite any
subtraction as addition of
the opposite.
(4x2 +25x2) +[(−12xy)+ 4xy] + [9y2+ (−32y2)] Group like terms using
commutative and
associative properties.
 29x2 + (−8xy) +(−23y2) Combine like terms.
Answer The sum is 29x2 – 8xy – 23y2. Rewrite as subtraction.

Some people find that writing the polynomial addition in a vertical form makes it easy to
combine like terms. The process of adding the polynomials is the same, but the arrangement of
the terms is different. The example below shows this “vertical” method of adding polynomials:

Example
Problem Add. (3x + 2y – 4z ) + (45x – y + 75z)

Write one polynomial

3x + 2y – 4z below the other,
making sure to line up
+ 45x – y + 75z like terms.

48x + y + 71z Combine like terms,

paying close attention
to the signs.
Answer The sum is 48x + y + 71z.

When there isn't a matching like term for every term in each polynomial, there will be empty
places in the vertical arrangement of the polynomials. This layout makes it easy to check that
you are combining like terms only.

Example
Problem Add. (10ab + 15ac – 25bc + 5) + (4ab – 8bc – 12)
Write one polynomial
10ab + 15ac – 25bc + 5 below the other,
making sure to line up
+ 4ab – 8bc – 12 like terms.

14ab + 15ac – 33bc – 7 Combine like terms,

paying close attention
to the signs.
Answer The sum is 14ab + 15ac – 33bc – 7.
 Add.
(8a3b2 + 6a2b – 4b2 + 5) + (10a2b – 4a3b2 + 6a2 – 7)

A) 18a3b2 + 2a2b + 2b2 – 2

B) 4a3b2 + 16a2b + 6a2 – 4b2 – 2

C) 18a3b2 + 2a2b + 6a2 – 4b2 – 2

D) 4a6b4 + 16a4b2 + 6a2 – 4b2 – 2

Show/Hide Answer

Subtracting Polynomials with More Than One Variable

You can apply the same process used to subtract polynomials with one variable to subtract
polynomials with more than one variable. In order to remove the parentheses following a
subtraction sign, you must multiply each term by −1.

Example
Problem Subtract. (14x3y2 – 5xy + 14y) – (7x3y2 – 8xy + 10y)
14x3y2 – 5xy + 14y – 7x3y2 + 8xy – 10y Remove the parentheses. Notice
the signs!
14x3y2 – 7x3y2 – 5xy + 8xy + 14y – 10y Regroup to put like terms together.
When you regroup or rearrange
terms involving subtraction, think of
the subtraction as “adding the
opposite” and move the negative
sign along with the term.
7x3y2 + 3xy + 4y Combine like terms.
Answer The difference is 7x3y2 + 3xy + 4y.

An alternative to the approach shown above is the vertical method for arranging the subtraction
problem. This method is shown below for a different problem. Both methods are effective for
subtracting polynomials—the idea is to identify and organize like terms in order to compute with
them accurately.

Example
 Problem Subtract. (10a3 + 5b2 – 5c + 10) – (15 + 5c – 15b2 + 10a3)
10a3 + 5b2 – 5c + 10 Organize the like terms
– (10a3 – 15b2 + 5c + 15) using the vertical
approach.
0 + 20b2 – 10c – 5 Combine like terms.
Pay attention to the
signs when
subtracting.
Answer The difference is 20b2 – 10c – 5.

The examples that follow illustrate the left-to-right and vertical methods for the same polynomial
subtraction problem. Think about which method you find easier.

Example
Problem Subtract. (3x4y3 + 5x3y2 – 2x2y2) – (−2x4y3 + 4x3y2 – 2x2y3 – 1)

3x4y3 + 5x3y2 – 2x2y2 + 2x4y3 – 4x3y2 + 2x2y3 + 1 Remove the parentheses.

The first polynomial stays
the same. The signs
change in the second
polynomial.
3x4y3 + 2x4y3 + 5x3y2 – 4x3y2 – 2x2y2 + 2x2y3 + 1 Regroup using commutative
and associative properties.

5x4y3 + x3y2 – 2x2y2 + 2x2y3 + 1 Combine like terms.

Answer The difference is 5x4y3 + x3y2 – 2x2y2 + 2x2y3 + 1.

Example
Problem Subtract. (3x4y3 + 5x3y2 – 2x2y2) – (−2x4y3 + 4x3y2 – 2x2y3 – 1)
Write one polynomial
below the other,
4 3
3x y + 5x y3 2
– 2x y 2 2
making sure to line up
– (−2x4y3 + 4x3y2 – 2x2y3 – 1) like terms.
 5x4y3 + x3y2 – 2x2y2 + 2x2y3 + 1 Combine like terms,
paying close attention
to the signs.
Answer
The difference is 5x4y3 + x3y2 – 2x2y2+ 2x2y3 + 1.

Multiplying Polynomials with More Than One Variable

Polynomials with more than one variable can also be multiplied by one another. You use the
same techniques you used when you multiplied polynomials with only one variable. Consider
the following example.

(4x2y3)(5x4y2)

This is an example of multiplication of two polynomials, specifically monomials, with two

variables. To do this multiplication, you multiply the coefficients and use the rules of exponents
to find the exponent for each variable in order to find the product. Let’s look.

(4x2y3)(5x4y2) = (4 • 5)(x2+4)(y3+2) = 20x6y5

To multiply a monomial by a binomial, you use the distributive property in the same way as
multiplying polynomials with one variable.

Example
Problem
Multiply.
Multiply, using the
distributive property.

Answer
The product is .

To multiply two binomials containing more than one variable, you can still use the FOIL (First,
Outer, Inner, Last) method that works for binomials with one variable. After all, FOIL is simply a
shortcut for using the distributive property to multiply each term in one binomial by each term in
the other binomial. This process works for multiplying any two binomials. Two examples follow.
 Example
Problem Multiply. (4x – 7xy)(2y + 3x)
4x • 2y = 8xy First
4x • 3x = 12x2 Outer
−7xy • 2y = −14xy2 Inner
−7xy • 3x = −21x2y Last
Be careful about including
the negative sign
with −7xy, since this term
is being subtracted.
8xy + 12x2 – 14xy2 – 21x2y Combine terms into one
expression.
Answer The product is 8xy + 12x2 – 14xy2 – 21x2y.

The next example shows the product of a binomial and a trinomial, each with two variables.
Since FOIL can only be used with the product of two binomials, you need to systematically
multiply each term in the binomial by each term in the trinomial.

Example
Problem Multiply. (9b – ab)(5a2b + 7ab – b)
9b(5a2b + 7ab – b) Multiply 9b by each
45a2b2 + 63ab2 – 9b2 term in the trinomial,
paying attention to the
signs.

Multiply −ab by each

−ab(5a b + 7ab – b) term in the trinomial,
2

−5a3b2 – 7a2b2 + ab2 paying attention to the

signs.

Combine the
45a2b2 + 63ab2 – 9b2 – 5a3b2 – 7a2b2 + ab2
products.
45a2b2 + 63ab2 – 9b2 - 5a3b2 – 7a2b2 + ab2
Combine like terms.
38a2b2 + 64ab2 – 9b2 – 5a3b2
Answer The product is 38a2b2 + 64ab2 – 9b2 – 5a3b2.
When multiplying multivariable polynomials like this, some people prefer to set up the
multiplication in a vertical fashion—as you would do if you were multiplying 45 • 189. The
example below shows (9b –ab)(5a2b + 7ab – b) set up in vertical fashion.

Example
Problem (9b – ab)(5a2b + 7ab – b)

9b −ab Set up the problem in a vertical

x 5a2b + 7ab −b form, and begin by multiplying
−9b2 + ab2 9b – ab by −b. Make sure to pay
attention to the signs! Place the
products underneath, as shown.
9b −ab Now multiply 9b – ab by +7ab.
x 2
5a b + 7ab −b Notice that (9b)(7ab) = 63ab2;
- 9b2 + ab2 since this term is like ab2, place it
−7a2b2 + 63ab2 directly beneath it.
9b −ab Finally, multiply 9b – ab by 5a2b.
x 2
5a b + 7ab −b
−9b2 + ab2
−7a b
2 2
+ 63ab2
−5a3b2 + 45a2b2
9b −ab Now add like terms.
5a2b + 7ab −b

- 9b2 + ab2
−7a b
2 2
+ 63ab2
- 5a3b2 + 45a2b2
- 5a3b2 + 38a2b2 - 9b2 + 64ab2
Answer −5a3b2 + 38a2b2 – 9b2 + 64ab2

Notice that the products of the two examples are the same, although the order of the individual
terms is different due to the different solution methods.

Find the product.

−4pt2(5pt3 + 3pt2 – t)

A) −20p2t5 – 12p2t4 + 4pt3

B) −20t5 + 12p2t4 – 4pt3

 C) −20pt6 – 12pt4 + 4pt2

D) −20p2t5 + 3pt2 – t

Show/Hide Answer

Dividing Polynomials with More Than One Variable

The fourth arithmetic operation is division. Polynomials with more than one variable can also be
divided. When dividing monomials with more than one variable, you divide the coefficients and
then divide variables. When there are exponents with the same base, the law of exponents says
you divide by subtracting the exponents. Consider this example.

Example
Problem

Divide.
To make it easier, you can
break up the coefficients
and variables into numeric
and variable factors.

Divide the coefficients,

and divide the variables by
subtracting the exponents
with like bases.

Rewrite with positive

exponents.

Answer

The quotient is .

Now let’s look at an example of dividing a trinomial with more than one variable by a monomial
with more than one variable. This follows the same procedure as when you have one variable,
but you need to pay attention to distinguishing between the variables.

Example
Problem

Divide.
To make it easier,
you can break the
division out by the
terms in the
polynomial since
each term is being
divided by 2x2y.
Perform the division
of each term by
dividing the
coefficients and
dividing the variables
by subtracting the
exponents of
variables with like
bases.
Answer
The quotient is .

Divide.

A) 5st2 – 2s2t + 1

B) 5st2 – 10s3t3 + 5st2

C) 20st2 – 5s2t

D)

Show/Hide Answer

Summary

Performing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of polynomials with more than one
variable follows the same steps as operating on polynomials in one variable. The key things to
pay attention to are combining only like terms and applying the laws of exponents, integer
operations, and the order of operations accurately.