Math Reviewer !

Algebra – is defined as the branch of mathematics.

Algebraic expression – a statement containing one or more terms connected by a plus or minus sign.

Variable – is a symbol which represents any number from a given replacement set, used to
represent an unknown value.

Constant – a number, letter, or symbol, which value is fixed.

Term – can be a variable or a signed number multiplied to a variable or a constant and each term is
separated by a sign, plus or minus.

Numerical coefficient – the number in an algebraic form.

Literal coefficient – is a variable used to represent a number and it may be raised to power.

Mathematical expression – is a phrase or sentence that has a minimum of two numbers, has at least
one arithmetic operation, and a letter that show a value of something.

Symbol Words related to symbols

+ Plus, add, increased by, more than, sum of
- Minus, subtract form, decreased by, diminished, difference
X Multiply, multiplied by, the product of times
÷ Ratio
exponents Raised to the power of, squared, cubed

Polynomial – an algebraic expression that has one or more terms. Derived from “poly” meaning
many, “nomial” meaning parts or terms.

Not a polynomial if…

1. The exponent of the variable is negative or a fraction.

Ex.

I APOLOGIZE FOR MY DIGITAL DRAWING SKILLS

2. The variable is in the denominator.

Ex.
 3. The variable is inside the radical sign.
Ex.

Kinds of polynomials

Monomial One term

Binomial Two terms
Trinomial Three terms
Multinomial Four or more terms

Degree of the term – highest exponent, highest sum of the exponents

If there is a variable with no exponent, then the exponent is 1.

Degree Name
0 Constant
1 Linear
2 Quadratic
3 Cubic
4 Quartic
5 Quintic

Ex. 2³ = 0 degree ↓
Because 2 is a constant.

Evaluating Algebraic Expressions and addition and subtraction of Polynomials

Remember:
In algebraic expressions, we replace the specified value of a variable in the expression.
After that, simplify the expression into a single numerical value.

Ex.
3 (g + 7) g=2
3 (2 + 7)
3 (9)
27
 Remember:
Follow GEMDAS rule.

Adding Polynomials

Combining similar terms in the expressions. To combine the terms, add the numerical
coefficients and copy the common literal coefficient.
Ex.

Determine the sum.

(2x + 6) + (3x² + 5x + 1)
HORIZONTAL METHOD

2x + 6 + 3x² + 5x + 1
3x² + 2x + 5x + 6 + 1
3x² + 7x + 7

(2x + 6) + (3x² + 5x + 1)
VERTICAL METHOD

3x² + 2x + 6
5x 1
3x² + 7x + 7

Subtracting Polynomials

Change the signs of all the terms in the subtrahend then proceed to the rule of addition.

Ex. (3x² + 12x + 5) – (3x² + 10)

MINUEND SUBTRAHEND

3x² + 12x + 5 - 3x² - 10

3x² - 3x² + 12x + 5 – 10
12x – 5

Laws of Exponent and Multiplication of Polynomials

 For any integers m and n, and any nonzero real numbers a and o.

Product Rule – when multiplying powers with the same base, copy the base then add the
exponent.

Ex. 2² · 2³ = 2⁵ = 256
Power of a Product Rule – To find the power of a power, copy the base then multiply the
two exponents.

Ex. (a³)² + a 3 · 2 = a⁶

Numerical coefficient always has 1.

Zero Exponent – a nonzero base raised to zero is always 1.

Ex. a⁰ = 1

Negative Exponent – a nonzero base raised to a negative exponent is equal to the reciprocal
of the base raised to the positive exponent.

Ex. b -2 <- exponent reciprocal is 1/b -2

Denominator is always 1.

Multiplication of Polynomials

To multiply a monomial with another monomial, simply multiply the numerical coefficients
then multiply the literal coefficients by applying the basic laws of exponents.

Ex. 2h³ · 3h¹¹ = 2 · 3 · h 3 + 11 = 6h 14

To multiply a monomial with a polynomial, simply apply the distributive property and follow
the rule in multiplying mono by mono.

Ex.

Polynomial by Polynomial
FOIL method
First
Outer
Inner
Last
 Ex.

Binomial by Trinomial
Ex.

Polynomial by Polynomial
Ex.

Special products

Steps in squaring a binomial

1. Square the first term
2. Add 2 to the product of the two terms
3. Add the square of the last term
(FOIL method is possible too)

Ex. (x + 6)²
(x)² + 2(x)(6) + (6)²
x² + 12x + 36

Steps in squaring a trinomial

1. Sum the squares of the 1st, 2nd, and last terms
2. Twice the product of the first and second terms
3. Twice the product of the first and last terms
4. Twice the product of the second and last terms

Ex. (x + y + z)²
(x)² + (y)² + (z)²
2 (x)(y)
2 (x)(z)
2 (y)(z)
x² + y² + z² + 2xy + 2xz + 2yz
Steps in cubing a binomial
1. Find the cube of each to each the first and the last terms
2. The second term is three times the product of the square of the first term and the
second term
3. The third term is three times the product of the first term and the square of the last
term.

Ex. (c + 2)³
(c)³ + (2)³
3 (c)²(2)
3 (c)(2)²
c³ + 8 + 6c² + 12c