Algebra Honors (Period 5 & 6)

Adding  & Subtracting Polynomials 4-2

Terms to Know:
Polynomials = SUM of monomials

Monomials must have variables with whole number powers.
no variables in the denominator, no roots of numbers!!
so 1/x is not a monomial
neither is x ^1/2

constants have whole number power of zero..
7 is really 7x⁰
constants are also called constant monomials


1 term = monomial
2 terms = binomial
3 terms = trinomial

TERMS are separated by addition
( if see subtraction-- THINK: add the opposite!!)

Coefficient - number attached to the variable ( it can be a fraction)
3x² - 10x
the coefficients are 3 and -10. Make sure to attach the negative sign to the coefficient -- and ADD the OPPOSITE

y/6 is really (1/6)y so the coefficient is 1/6
if you have -x/3 that is really (-1/3)x so the coefficient is -1/3


Constant = the number that is not attached to ANY variable

Two monomials that are exactly alike ( except for the coefficient) are said to be similar, or like, terms.
-5xy² and xy² and (1/3) xy² are like terms. So is 16yxy because when you combine it 16yxy becomes 16xy²
But... -3xy² and -3x²y are NOT!!!

A polynomial is simplified when no two terms are similar
-6x³ + 3 x² + x² + 6x³ - 5 can be simplified to
4x² - 5



Some MORE TERMS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Degree of a variable in a term = number of times that variable occurs as a factor.
Degree of a term = SUM of the exponents of all its variables
-6x⁴ : the degree is 4
8x² : the degree is 2
-2x : the degree is 1
9 : the degree is 0 ( think 9 is really 9x⁰

Degree of a polynomial - HIGHEST degree of any of its terms
so
-6x⁴ + 8x² + -2x + 9
The degree of the polynomial is : 4

Leading term = term with the HIGHEST degree
Leading coefficient- the coefficient of the leading term

Day Two of this lesson:

Descending order- write the variables with the highest power first ( This is the way it is usually written)

Ascending order- write the variables with the lowest power first ( actually NEVER used in practice)


Adding Polynomials
This is nothing more than combining LIKE TERMS
LIKE TERMS = same variable AND same power

You can either do this using 3 different strategies:
1. Simply do it in your head, but keep track by crossing out the terms as you use them.
2. Rewrite putting the like terms together (commutative and associative property)
3. Rewrite in COLUMN form, putting like terms on top of each other like you do when adding a column of numbers.

EXAMPLE OF COLUMN FORM:
(5x⁴ - 3x² - (-4x) + 3) + (-10x⁴ + 3x³- 3x² - x + 3)
Rewrite in column form, lining up like terms:


Subtraction of Polynomials
You can use the ADDITIVE INVERSE PROPERTY with polynomials!
Subtracting is simply adding the opposite so.............
DISTRIBUTE THE NEGATIVE SIGN TO EACH TERM!!
(Change all the signs of the second polynomial!)
After you change all the signs, use one of your ADDING POLYNOMIAL strategies!
(see the 3 strategies listed above under Chapter 5-7)

EXAMPLE OF COLUMN FORM:
(5x⁴ - 3x² - (-4x) + 3) - (-10x⁴ + 3x³- 3x² - x + 3)
Rewrite in column form, lining up like terms:
5x⁴ - 3x² - (-4x) + 3
- ( -10x⁴ + 3x³- 3x² - x + 3)
-----------------------------------

For the sake of showing you here, I have added ZERO Terms to line up columns
+ 5x⁴ + 0x³ - 3x² -(-4x) + 3
-(-10x⁴ +3x³- 3x² - x + 3)
-----------------------------------

DISTRIBUTE THE NEGATIVE, THEN ADD:
5x⁴ + 0x³ - 3x² - (-4x) + 3
+10x⁴ -3x³ +3x² + x - 3
-----------------------------------
15x⁴ - 3x³ + 5 x