Polynomials

A polynomial is a single term or a finite sum of terms. The powers of the variables in a
polynomial must be positive integers, i.e. 1, 2, 3, etc. For example

3𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 5

Addition & Subtraction of Polynomials

In arithmetic, we are familiar with addition and subtraction. Furthermore, the addition and
subtraction of algebraic expressions should have been encountered some time before. That
is basically the same as adding and subtracting polynomials.

N.B.

When adding and subtracting polynomials, only like terms are added or
subtracted. The coefficients of the like terms are added or subtracted.

Examples

1) 13𝑥 2 + 11𝑥 + 9𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 − 2𝑥 2 = 9𝑥 3 + 11𝑥 2 + 14𝑥

2) 7(2𝑥 4 − 5𝑥 3 ) + 3(6𝑥 4 + 12𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 − 7) = 14𝑥 4 − 35𝑥 3 + 18𝑥 4 + 36𝑥 3 + 6𝑥 − 21
= 32𝑥 4 + 𝑥 3 + 6𝑥 − 21
3) 4(3𝑥 5 − 3𝑥 2 + 15𝑥 + 12) − 2(4𝑥 2 + 29𝑥 − 6)
An alternative way of simplifying polynomials, we can use the following form
12𝑥 5 − 12𝑥 2 + 60𝑥 + 48
− 8𝑥 2 − 58𝑥 + 12
12𝑥 5 − 20𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 60
In the form above, we line up each term so simplification is easier.
 Indices or Exponents
The index refers to the power to which a number is raised. For example

53

In the example 53 , the number 5 is raised to the power 3. The 3 is known as the index or
exponent. The 5 is known as the base.

Laws Examples
1. 𝑎𝑚 × 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚+𝑛 23 × 24 = 23+4 = 27
2. 𝑎𝑚 45 ÷ 42 = 45−2 = 43
𝑎 ÷ 𝑎 = 𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚−𝑛
𝑚 𝑛
𝑎
3. (𝑎𝑚 )𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚𝑛 (34 )2 = 34×2 = 38
4. 1 1
𝑎−𝑛 = 5−2 =
𝑎𝑛 52
5. 1 1 3
𝑚
𝑎 𝑚 = √𝑎 643 = √64
6. 𝑎0 = 1 32 ÷ 32 = 32−2 = 30 = 1

Multiplication & Division of Polynomials

Like the addition and subtraction of polynomials, when multiplying and dividing
polynomials we only deal with like terms.

Examples

1) 8𝑎2 𝑏 × 3𝑎3 𝑏 2 × 5𝑎5 𝑏 7 = 8 × 3 × 5 × 𝑎2+3+5 × 𝑏1+2+7

= 120𝑎10 𝑏10
2) 48
48𝑎8 𝑏 5 𝑐 3 ÷ 6𝑎6 𝑏 2 𝑐 3 = × 𝑎8−6 × 𝑏 5−2 × 𝑐 3−3
6
= 8𝑎2 𝑏 3 𝑐 0
= 8𝑎2 𝑏 3
3) (2𝑥 2 𝑦 4 )3 = 23 × (𝑥 2 )3 × (𝑦 4 )3
= 8𝑥 6 𝑦12