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
 MCQ WORKSHEET-I
CLASS X : CHAPTER - 2
POLYNOMIALS

1. The value of k for which (–4) is a zero of the polynomial x2 – x – (2k +2) is
(a) 3 (b) 9 (c) 6 (d) –1

2. If the zeroes of the quadratic polynomial ax2 + bx + c, c  0 are equal,

then
(a) c and a have opposite sign (b) c and b have opposite sign
(c) c and a have the same sign (d) c and b have the same sign

3. The number of zeroes of the polynomial from the graph is

(a) 0 (b) 1 (c) 2 (d) 3

4. If one of the zero of the quadratic polynomial x2 +3x + k is 2, then the value of k is
(a) 10 (b) –10 (c) 5 (d) –5

5. A quadratic polynomial whose zeroes are –3 and 4 is

(a) x2 – x +12 (b) x2 +x + 12 (c) 2x2 + 2x – 24. (d) none of the above.

6. The relationship between the zeroes and coefficients of the quadratic polynomial ax2 + bx + c
c b c b
is (a)  +  = (b)  +  = (c)  +  = (d)  +  =
a a a a

7. The zeroes of the polynomial x2 + 7x + 10 are

(a) 2 and 5 (b) –2 and 5 (c) –2 and –5 (d) 2 and –5

8. The relationship between the zeroes and coefficients of the quadratic polynomial ax2 + bx + c
c b c b
is (a) . = (b)  . = (c)  . = (d)  . =
a a a a

9. The zeroes of the polynomial x2 – 3 are

(a) 2 and 5 (b) –2 and 5 (c) –2 and –5 (d) none of the above

10. The number of zeroes of the polynomial from the graph is

(a) 0 (b) 1 (c) 2 (d) 3

11. A quadratic polynomial whose sum and product of zeroes

are –3 and 2 is
(a) x2 – 3x +2 (b) x2 + 3x + 2 (c) x2 + 2x – 3. (d) x2 + 2x + 3.

12. The zeroes of the quadratic polynomial x2 + kx + k, k  0 ,

(a) cannot both be positive (b) cannot both be negative
(c) are always unequal (d) are always equal
 MCQ WORKSHEET-II
CLASS X : CHAPTER - 2
POLYNOMIALS
1 1
1. If  ,  are the zeroes of the polynomials f(x) = x2 + x + 1, then 
 
(a) 0 (b) 1 (c) –1 (d) none of these
2. If one of the zero of the polynomial f(x) = (k2 + 4)x2 + 13x + 4k is reciprocal of the other
then k =
(a) 2 (b) 1 (c) –1 (d) – 2
1 1
3. If  ,  are the zeroes of the polynomials f(x) = 4x2 + 3x + 7, then 
 
7 7 3 3
(a) (b) (c) (d)
3 3 7 7
4. If the sum of the zeroes of the polynomial f(x) = 2x3 – 3kx2 + 4x – 5 is 6, then value of k is
(a) 2 (b) 4 (c) –2 (d) – 4
5. The zeroes of a polynomial p(x) are precisely the x-coordinates of the points, where the graph
of y = p(x) intersects the
(a) x – axis (b) y – axis (c) origin (d) none of the above
6. If  ,  are the zeroes of the polynomials f(x) = x2 – p(x + 1) – c, then (  1)(   1) =
(a) c – 1 (b) 1 – c (c) c (d) 1 + c
7. A quadratic polynomial can have at most …….. zeroes
(a) 0 (b) 1 (c) 2 (d) 3
8. A cubic polynomial can have at most …….. zeroes.
(a) 0 (b) 1 (c) 2 (d) 3
9. Which are the zeroes of p(x) = x2 – 1:
(a) 1, –1 (b) – 1, 2 (c) –2, 2 (d) –3, 3
10. Which are the zeroes of p(x) = (x – 1)(x – 2):
(a) 1, –2 (b) – 1, 2 (c) 1, 2 (d) –1, –2
11. Which of the following is a polynomial?
( a) x 2  5 x  3
1
(b) x 
x
(c) x  x  x1/ 2
3/ 2

(d ) x1/ 2  x  10
12. Which of the following is not a polynomial?
( a) 3 x 2  2 3 x  3
3 1
(b) x 3  5 x 2  x 1
2 2
1
(c ) x 
x
2
(d )5 x  3 x  2
 MCQ WORKSHEET-III
CLASS X : CHAPTER - 2
POLYNOMIALS
1. If  ,  are the zeroes of the polynomials f(x) = x2 + 5x + 8, then   
(a) 5 (b) –5 (c) 8 (d) none of these

2. If  ,  are the zeroes of the polynomials f(x) = x2 + 5x + 8, then  .

(a) 0 (b) 1 (c) –1 (d) none of these
3. On dividing x3 + 3x2 + 3x +1 by x   we get remainder:
(a)   3  3 2  3  1
(b) 3  3 2  3  1
(c)   3  3 2  3  1
(d )   3  3 2  3  1

4. The zero of p(x) = 9x + 4 is:

4 9 4 9
(a) (b) (c) (d)
9 4 9 4

5. On dividing x3 + 3x2 + 3x +1 by 5 + 2x we get remainder:

8 8 27 27
(a) (b) (c) (d)
27 27 8 8

6. A quadratic polynomial whose sum and product of zeroes are –3 and 4 is

(a) x2 – 3x +12 (b) x2 + 3x + 12 (c) 2x2 + x – 24. (d) none of the above.

3 1
7. A quadratic polynomial whose zeroes are and is
5 2
(a) 10x2 – x – 3 (b) 10x2 + x – 3 (c) 10x2 – x + 3 (d) none of the above.

8. A quadratic polynomial whose sum and product of zeroes are 0 and 5 is

(a) x2 – 5 (b) x2 + 5 (c) x2 + x – 5. (d) none of the above.
9. A quadratic polynomial whose zeroes are 1 and –3 is
(a) x2 – 2x – 3 (b) x2 + 2x – 3 (c) x2 – 2x + 3 (d) none of the above.
10. A quadratic polynomial whose sum and product of zeroes are –5 and 6 is
(a) x2 – 5x – 6 (b) x2 + 5x – 6 (c) x2 + 5x + 6 (d) none of the above.

11. Which are the zeroes of p(x) = x2 + 3x – 10 :

(a) 5, –2 (b) –5, 2 (c) –5, –2 (d) none of these

12. Which are the zeroes of p(x) = 6x2 – 7x – 3 :

(a) 5, –2 (b) –5, 2 (c) –5, –2 (d) none of these

13. Which are the zeroes of p(x) = x2 + 7x + 12 :

(a) 4, –3 (b) –4, 3 (c) –4, –3 (d) none of these
 MCQ WORKSHEET-IV
CLASS X : CHAPTER - 2
POLYNOMIALS

1. The degree of the polynomial whose graph is given below:

(a) 1 (b) 2 (c)  3 (d) cannot be fixed

2. If the sum of the zeroes of the polynomial 3x2 – kx + 6 is 3, then the value of k is:
(a) 3 (b) –3 (c) 6 (d) 9

3. The other two zeroes of the polynomial x3 – 8x2 + 19x – 12 if tis one zeroes is x = 1 are:
(a) 3, –4 (b) –3, –4 (c) –3, 4 (d) 3, 4

4. The quadratic polynomial, the sum and product of whose zeroes are –3 and 2 is:
(a) x2 – 3x + 2 (b) x2 + 3x – 2 (c) x2 + 3x + 2 (d) none of the these.

5. The third zero of the polynomial, if the sum and product of whose zeroes are –3 and 2 is:
(a) 7 (b) –7 (c) 14 (d) –14

5 5
6. If and  are two zeroes of the polynomial 3x4 + 6x3 – 2x2 – 10x – 5, then its other two
3 3
zeroes are:
(a) –1, –1 (b) 1, –1 (c) 1, 1 (d) 3, –3

7. If a – b, a and a + b are zeroes of the polynomial x3 – 3x2 + x + 1 the value of (a + b) is

(a) 1  2 (b)  1  2 (c)  1  2 (d) 3

8. A real numbers a is called a zero of the polynomial f(x), then

(a) f(a) = –1 (b) f(a) = 1 (c) f(a) = 0 (d) f(a) = –2

9. Which of the following is a polynomial:

1
(a) x 2  (b) 2 x 2  3 x  1 (c) x 2  x 2  7 (d) 3 x 2  3x  1
x

10. The product and sum of zeroes of the quadratic polynomial ax2 + bx + c respectively are:
b c c b c c b
(a) , (b) , (c) ,1 (d) ,
a a a a b a a

11. The quadratic polynomial, sum and product of whose zeroes are 1 and –12 respectively is
(a) x2 – x – 12 (b) x2 + x – 12 (c) x2 – 12x + 1 (d) x2 – 12x – 1.

12. If the product of two of the zeroes of the polynomial 2x3 – 9x2 + 13x – 6 is 2, the third zero of
the polynomial is:
3 3
(a) –1 (b) –2 (c) (d) –
2 2