GRACE MISSION COLLEGE

Catiningan, Socorro, Oriental Mindoro

e-Mail: [email protected]

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

-Proverbs 1:7

Module 2 in COLLEGE AND ADVANCE ALGEBRA

PREREQUISITES (Continuation)

POLYNOMIALS

Polynomial is a sum of or difference of terms, each consisting of a variable raised to a nonnegative

integer power. A number multiplied by a variable raised to an exponent, such as 384π, is known as a
coefficient. Coefficients can be positive, negative, or zero, and can be whole numbers, decimals, or fractions.
If a term does not contain a variable, it is called a constant.

A polynomial is an expression that can be written in the form:

Leading coeffecient Degree

𝒂𝒏 𝒙𝒏 + ... + 𝒂𝟐 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒂𝟏 𝒙𝟏 + 𝒂𝟎

Leading Term

A polynomial containing only one term, such as 5𝑥 2 , is called a monomial. A polynomial containing
two terms, such as 2x − 9, is called a binomial. A polynomial containing three terms, such as −3𝑥 2 + 8x − 7,
is called a trinomial.

We can find the degree of a polynomial by identifying the highest power of the variable that occurs
in the polynomial. The term with the highest degree is called the leading term because it is usually written
first. The coefficient of the leading term is called the leading coefficient. When a polynomial is written so
that the powers are descending, we say that it is in standard form.

Example 1: Identify the degree, the leading term, and the leading coefficient of 3 + 2x 2 − 4x 3

Solution: The highest power of x is 3, so the degree is 3. The leading term is the term containing that degree,
−4x 3 . The leading coefficient is the coefficient of that term, −4.

Adding and Subtracting Polynomials

We can add and subtract polynomials by combining like terms, which are terms that contain the same
variables raised to the same exponents. For example, 5x 2 and −2x 2 are like terms, and can be added to get
3x 2 , but 3x and 3x 2 are not like terms, and therefore cannot be added.

Example 2: Adding Polynomials

Find the sum. (12x 2 + 9x − 21) + (4x 3 + 8x 2 − 5x + 20)

Solution:

4x 3 + (12x 2 + 8x 2) + (9x − 5x) + (−21 + 20) Combine like terms.

4x 3 + 20x 2 + 4x − 1 Simplify.

Example 3: Subtracting Polynomials

Find the difference. (7x 4 − x 2 + 6x + 1) − (5x 3 − 2x 2 + 3x + 2)

Solution:

7x 4 − 5x 3 + (−x 2 + 2x 2 ) + (6x − 3x) + (1 − 2) Combine like terms.

7x 4 − 5x 3 + x 2 + 3x − 1 Simplify.

Multiplying Polynomials Using the Distributive Property

To multiply a number by a polynomial, we use the distributive property. The number must be
distributed to each term of the polynomial. We can distribute the 2 in 2(x + 7) to obtain the equivalent
expression 2x + 14. When multiplying polynomials, the distributive property allows us to multiply each term
of the first polynomial by each term of the second. We then add the products together and combine like terms
to simplify.

Example 4: Multiplying Polynomials Using the Distributive Property

Find the product. (2x + 1) (3x 2 − x + 4)

Solution

2x (3x 2 − x + 4) + 1(3x 2 − x + 4) Use the distributive property.

(6x 3 − 2x 2 + 8x ) + (3x 2 − x + 4) Multiply.

6x 3 + (−2x 2 + 3x 2 ) + (8x − x) + 4 Combine like terms.

6x 3 + x 2 + 7x + 4 Simplify.

Using FOIL Method to Multiply Binomials

A shortcut called FOIL is sometimes used to find the product of two binomials. It is called FOIL because we
multiply the first terms, the outer terms, the inner terms, and then the last terms of each binomial.

Given two binomials, use FOIL to simplify the expression.

1. Multiply the first terms of each binomial. Example: (x + 7)(3x − 5)
2. Multiply the outer terms of the binomials.
3. Multiply the inner terms of the binomials. F O I L
4. Multiply the last terms of each binomial.
(x)(3x) + (-5)(x) + (7)(3x) + (-5)(7)
5. Add the products.
3x 2 – 5x + 21x - 35
6. Combine like terms and simplify. 2
3x + 16x - 35

Perfect Square Trinomials

Certain binomial products have special forms. When a binomial is squared, the result is called a perfect
square trinomial. We can find the square by multiplying the binomial by itself. However, there is a special
form that each of these perfect square trinomials takes, and memorizing the form makes squaring binomials
much easier and faster. Let’s look at a few perfect square trinomials to familiarize ourselves with the form.

(x + 5) 2 = x 2 + 10x + 25

(x − 3) 2 = x 2 − 6x + 9

(4x + 1) 2 = 4x 2 − 8x + 1

In general, when a binomial is squared, the result is the first term squared added to double the product
of both terms and the last term squared.

(x + a) 2 = (x + a) (x + a) = x 2 + 2ax + a2

Difference of Squares

Another special product is called the difference of squares, which occurs when we multiply a binomial
by another binomial with the same terms but the opposite sign. Let’s see what happens when we multiply (x
+ 1) (x − 1) using the FOIL method.

(x + 1)(x − 1) = x 2 − x + x − 1 = x 2 − 1

The middle term drops out, resulting in a difference of squares. Just as we did with the perfect squares,
let’s look at a few examples.
(x + 5)(x − 5) = x 2 − 25
(x + 11)(x − 11) = x 2 − 121
(2x + 3)(2x − 3) = 4 x 2 – 9

Performing Operations with Polynomials of Several Variables

We have looked at polynomials containing only one variable. However, a polynomial can contain
several variables. All of the same rules apply when working with polynomials containing several variables.
Consider an example:
(a + 2b)(4a − b − c) a(4a − b − c) + 2b(4a − b − c) Use the distributive property.
2 2
4a − ab − ac + 8ab − 2 b − 2bc Multiply.
2 2
4a + (− ab + 8ab) − ac − 2b − 2bc Combine like terms.
2 2
4a + 7ab − ac − 2bc − 2b Simplify.
ACTIVITY 1
A. Direction: Identify the degree of the polynomial.
1. 7x − 2x 2 + 13
2. 14m3 + m2 − 16m + 8
3. −625a8 + 16b4
4. 200p − 30p2 m + 40m3
5. x 2 + 4x + 4
B. Direction: Perform the indicated operation/properties of polynomials
1. (12x 2 + 3x) − (8x 2 −19)
2. (4z 3 + 8z 2 − z) + (−2z 2 + z + 6)
3. (4x + 2)(6x – 4)
4. (3y − 7)2
5. (4c + 1)(4c − 1)

FACTORING POLYNOMIALS

1) First determine if a common monomial factor (Greatest Common Factor) exists. Factor trees may be used
to find the GCF of difficult numbers. Be aware of opposites: Ex. (a-b) and (b-a). These may become the
same by factoring -1 from one of them.
3x – 12 = 3(x – 4)
x y − 3xy 2 = xy 2 (𝑥 − 3)
2 2

6(x – y) + a(x – y) = (x – y)(6 + a)

2) If the problem to be factored is a binomial, see if it fits one of the following situations.

A. Difference of two squares:

a2 − b2 = (a + b)(a – b)

9x 2 - 25y 2 = (3x + 5y)(3x – 5y)

(a + b)2 − 25 = [(𝑎 + 𝑏) + 5][(𝑎 + 𝑏) − 5] = (a + b + 5) (a + b – 5)

B. Sum of two squares:

a2 + b2 does not factor (it is prime).

C. Sum of two cubes:

a3 + b3 = (a + b)( a2 − 𝑎𝑏 + b2 )

8x 3 + 27y 3 = (2x + 3y)(4x 2 − 6𝑥𝑦 + 9y 2 )

D. Difference of two cubes:

a3 − b3 = (a - b)( a2 + 𝑎𝑏 + b2 )

x 3 – 64 = (x – 4)( x 2 + 4x + 16)
 E. If none of these occur, the binomial does not factor.

3) If the problem is a trinomial, check for one of the following possibilities.

A. Square of a binomial:

a2 + 2𝑎𝑏 + b2 = (𝑎 + 𝑏)(𝑎 + 𝑏) = (a + b)2

x 2 + 6𝑥 + 9 = (𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 + 3) = (x + 3)2

4x 2 − 20𝑥𝑦 + 25y 2 = (2x − 5y)2

B. If a = 1, use reverse foil or trial and error method:

x 2 + 7𝑥 + 12 = (𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 + 4)

x 2 − 7𝑥 + 12 = (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 4)

x 2 + 3𝑥 − 18 = (𝑥 + 6)(𝑥 − 3)

x 2 − 3𝑥 − 18 = (𝑥 − 6)(𝑥 + 3)

C. If a≠1, use trial and error method. (Grouping may also be used.)

ACTIVITY 2

A. Direction: Factor the following polynomials.

1. y 3 + 9y 2
2. p2 – 36
3. x 2 + 9𝑥 + 20
4. x 2 − 10𝑥 + 25
5. 4a2 + 16a + 16

“Believing in yourself is always the X factor in the equation of achieving greatness!”

- Timothy Pina

Prepared by:

09127648540
Jeorge Ornedo Hugno
[email protected]
SIR JEORGE O. HUGNO
Subject Teacher