an introduction to

addition and subtraction of

polynomials
 Things to learn:
✘ Integers ✘ Addition
✘ Like terms ✘ Subtraction

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 1.
integers

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 addition of integers
○ (Positive)+(positive) ○ (negative)+(negative)
■ Just add as usual ■ add the absolute value and
make the final answer
negative
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○ (negative)+(positive)/vice
versa
■ Subtract the smaller absolute
value to the higher absolute
value, and then copy the sign
of the higher absolute value
to the final answer
 subtraction of integers
○ (positive)-(positive) ○ (negative)-(negative) ○ (negative)-(positive)
■ just subtract as usual. ■ Just change the operation to ■ Just change the operation to
But if the subtrahend is addition and make the addition and make the
larger, then the answer subtrahend positive then subtrahend negative then
would be negative. simply add. simply add as negative
integers.

○ (zero)-(positive) ○ (positive)-(zero) and

■ Change the subtrahend
into a negative number
and then take the
subtrahend as your
answer
(negative)-(zero)
■ Simply take the minuend
your answer

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 2.
like terms

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 LIKE TERMS
✘ LIKE TERMS are terms in algebraic expressions that
have both the same variables, and the same exponents
if the term has exponents.

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 3.

polynomial

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 polynomial
✘ A polynomial is a special ✘ Thus an algebraic ✘ There are special names for
kind of expression where expression is not a polynomials with one, two,
each term is a constant, a polynomial or three terms.
variable, or a product of ✘ A monomial has one term
constants and variables
raised to whole number ✘ A binomial has two terms
exponents. ✘ A trinomial has three terms
✘ A multinomial has 4 or
more terms

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 ADDITION OF POLYNOMIALS
✘ You can show the process
of adding polynomials by
combining like terms
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✘ To add polynomials,
simply combine the like
terms. To combine like
terms get the sum of the
numerical coefficient and
annex the same literal
coefficient.
 ADDITION OF POLYNOMIALS
✘ NOTE: notice the 2nd
○ Steps in adding polynomials: example. If there are no
○ (1) Make the expression standard form like terms in the
○ (2) Add the like terms expression, then the answer
○ (3) Make the final answer standard form if needed would be the expression,
but in standard form if not.
The same goes for
○ EXAMPLE: subtraction.
■ (1) 2x + 3x = 5x
■ (2) 4y + 5z = 4y + 5z
■ (3) 3x + 4x + z + 4
■ = 7x + z + 4

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 Subtraction of polynomials
✘ To subtract polynomials, change the ✘ You can also show the process of
sign of the subtrahend then proceed subtracting polynomials by
to the addition rule. Also, remember combining like terms which is done
what subtraction means. It is adding by subtracting the numbers, and
the negative of the quantity. then copying their variables and
exponents.

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Subtraction of polynomials
Steps in subtracting polynomials:
(1) Make the expression in standard form
(2) Subtract like terms
(3) Make the final answer standard form if possible

Examples:
2cv² - 4cv² - 2x
= -2cv² - 2x

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