Module 3:

Polynomials
College Algebra
Jerome A. Jimenez, MoM

Polynomial

A polynomial is an algebraic expression of one or

more terms.

Each terms is a product of constants and variables

Each variable is raised to a positive integral exponent

including zero.

Examples

The following expressions are polynomials.

4xy3
4bc5 15ab3
5x2 + 3x +
7x3 3x2y + 5xy3 12y3

Classification of
Polynomials

A monomial is a polynomial of one term

-, 4x4, -2a5b3

A binomial is a polynomial of two terms

-2x + 3, 4a5 b4, 3xy2 + 5x3y

A trinomial is a polynomial of three terms

4x2 - 8x + 11

Degree of Polynomials

The degree of a monomial is the sum of the

exponents of its literal coefficients.

8a5

3x4y3z

-8

The degree of a polynomial is the highest degree

of its monomial terms.

5x3 4x2 + 3

5a4 4a3b + 3a2b2 ab3 + 3b4

Standard Form of
Polynomials in One
Variable
The standard form of a polynomial of nth degree in one
variable is written as

anxn + an-1xn-1 +an-2xn-2 ++ a2x2 + a1x + a0

where a1, a2, a3,.., an are real numbers (an 0) and n is a

nonnegative integer. an is the leading coefficient and a0 is the
constant.

Operations in Polynomials

Rules in simplifying polynomials involving grouping symbols.

1. Remove the grouping symbols by applying the distributive

property of multiplication over addition.

2. In case a pair of grouping symbols encloses other grouping

symbols, remove the innermost symbols first and work from the
inside out.
3. Collect similar terms as they appear.
4. Arrange the resulting polynomial in alphabetical and descending

order of one variable.

Addition and Subtraction of

Polynomials

To add or subtract polynomials, arrange similar

terms in column and find the sum or the difference

of the term in each column.

Multiplication of
Polynomials
To multiply polynomials, arrange the terms of both

polynomials in descending powers of one variable.

multiply each term of one polynomial by all the

terms of the other polynomial.

combine similar terms.
Express resulting expression in alphabetical and

descending order of one variable.

Division of Polynomials

To divide a polynomial by a monomial, divide each

term of the polynomial by the monomial by

applying the rules for signed numbers and the
laws of exponent.

To divide a polynomial by another polynomial,

arrange each polynomial in alphabetical and

descending order of one variable and use long
division process.

Special Products

Product of two Binomials

(ax + by)(cx + dy) = acx2 + (ad + bc)xy + bdy2

Product of a Sum and a Difference

(x + y)(x y) = x2 y2

Square of a Binomial
(x + y)2 = x2 +2xy + y2

(x y)2 = x2 2xy + y2

Special Products

Cube of a Binomial
(x + y)3 = x3 + 3x2y + 3xy2 + y3

(x y)3 = x3 - 3x2y + 3xy2 - y3

Product of a Binomial and a Trinomial

(x + y)(x2 xy + y2) = x3 + y3

(x - y)(x2 + xy + y2) = x3 - y3

Square of a Polynomial
(x + y + z)2 = x2 + y2 + z2 + 2xy + 2xz + 2yz

Factoring Polynomials

Factoring is the process of finding expressions

which when multiplied together will give the given

product.

To factor a polynomial means to express it as a

product of its prime polynomials factors.

Types of Factoring of
Polynomials

Greatest Common Factor

Difference of Two squares

Sum or Difference of Two cubes

Factoring a Perfect Square Trinomial

Factoring a Trinomial

Factoring by Grouping

Factoring by Adding or Subtracting suitable terms

Factoring by Synthetic Division

Exercises