I.

Polynomials
Definition: Sum of monomials is a polynomial
*Note: +) A monomial is also a polynomial
+) A number is also a monomial.
Standard form: f(x) = anxn + an-1xn-1+ an-2xn-2 + ... + a1x + a0
(The degrees of terms decreases starting from the highest degree)
- Lead coefficient: an: The coefficient next to the highest degree
- Constant coefficient: a0: The coefficient not attached to variables.
II. Calculating with polynomials
1. Adding and subtracting
- Rewrite all the given polynomials into the standard form.
- Add or subtract the coefficients with the same degrees.
Ex: f(x) = 6x2 + 4x4 + 3x + 7
g(x) = 13x4 + 9x3 + 17x + 12
f(x) + g(x) = 6x2 + 4x4 + 3x + 7 + (13x4 + 9x3 + 17x + 12) = 17x4 + 9x3 + 6x2 + 20x + 19
f(x) - g(x) = 6x2 + 4x4 + 3x + 7 - (13x4 + 9x3 + 17x + 12) = -9x4 - 9x3 + 6x2 - 14x – 5
2. Multiplying polynomials
- Multiplying with monomial: Multiply that monomial with each monomial in the
polynomial then simplify it.
Ex: 2x2(3x3 + 7x2 + 4x + 8) = 2x2.3x3 + 2x2.7x2 + 2x2.4x + 2x2.8 = 6x5 + 14x4 + 8x3 + 16x2
- Multiplying with polynomial: Ex:
(5x – 2y)(x2 – xy + 1) = 5x3 – 5x2y + 5x – 2x2y + 2xy2 – 2y = 5x3 – 7x2y + 5x + 2xy2 – 2y
III. Identities/ Constant equality
1. (A + B)2 = A2 + 2AB + B2
2. (A - B)2 = A2 - 2AB + B2
3. A2 – B2 = A2 – B2
4. (A + B)3 = A3 + 3A2B + 3AB2 + B3
5. (A - B)3 = A3 - 3A2B + 3AB2 - B3
6. A3 + B3 = (A + B)(A2 – AB + B2)
7. A3 - B3 = (A - B)(A2 + AB + B2)
8. (a1+a2+…+an)2 = a12 +a22 + … + an2 + 2a1a2 + 2a1a3 +…+2a1an+2a2a3+…+2an-1an
*Proof I have shown in the session.
IV. Average rate of change
y = f(x)
y1 = f(x1)
y2 = f(x2)
y 2− y 1
Formula for average rate of change: x 2−x 1