Polynomials Unit – 17 class days (minus 3-5 for review)

Each of you needs to do at least 3 journal entries per week!

Why are polynomials useful?

We work with polynomials a lot in PreCal. So if you’re planning to take Pre-Cal, you
need to ace this unit.

Polynomial equations are also used to model many real-world situations. The most
common and useful polynomials involve speed – maybe a car braking, and also how fast
something falls from the sky.

You should know:

Chapter 5.1
• Vocabulary
o polynomial
o monomial, binomial, trinomial
o degree
o coefficient
o constant
o variable
o term
• What is/is not a polynomial
• How to use algebra tiles to model a polynomial

Chapter 5.2
• Pchewh (what happens when you combine +1 and -1 or +x and –x or +x
and –x2)
• How to recognize like terms
• How to group like terms
• How to simplify a polynomial
• What are “equivalent” polynomials
• How to recognize like terms if there are two variables (or 3 or 4?)

Chapter 5.3
• How to add polynomials
o using tiles
o just with paper
• You must simplify first
• Dealing with positive and negative integers (remember Pchewh)
• Working with perimeter and polynomials
o How to add up sides of rectangles if length is given as polynomial
o How to add up sides of triangles if length is given as a polynomial
Chapter 5.4
• How to subtract polynomials
o using tiles
o just with paper
o remember to use PEDMAS
• You must simplify first
• Dealing with positive and negative integers (remember Pchewh)
• Working with perimeter to find the length of certain sides if you know the
total perimeter

Chapter 5.5
• How to multiply and divide polynomials by a constant
o go term by term
o represent it with tiles
o what is the distributive property?
• How a division equation and multiplication equation are related

Chapter 5.6
• How to multiply and divide polynomials by a monomial
o go term by term
o represent it with tiles
• How a division equation and multiplication equation are related
• Be careful about the degree of the solution