MATHEMATICS 7

WEEK 3
• Algebra is a language itself. It is a shorthand
idea. The skill in translating from English phrase
to mathematical expressions is very important in
solving not just theoretical math problems but
practical problems as well.
• Phrases like “a number” or “the number”
indicate that the expression has unknown
quantity, a variable. We can use letters to
represent these variables.
 ADDITION SUBTRACTION MULTIPLICATIO DIVISION POWER
N
increased by minus multiplied by ratio of square

added to subtracted from twice the quotient cube

of
more than less than times divided by raised to
sum diminished by thrice
together decrease the product of

plus subtracted to
less
difference
Translation of Mathematical Phrases to English Phrases
Symbols Verbal Phrases
A. x + 7 seven more than a number
B. m + n sum of two numbers
C. m – 11 eleven less than a number
D. 2 – x two less a number
E. 11m eleven times a number
F. 2(a - b) twice the difference of two numbers
G. a/b the ratio of two numbers
H. x + (x+1) + (x+2) sum of three consecutive numbers
I. x2 square of a number
J. z3 cube of a number
Algebraic
Expressions
A. Positive Integer Exponent
(an, where a ≠ 0 and n is a positive integer)

The expression 2222 can be written as 24

base →2 4→exponent
 xxx = x 3

• The variable x is the base, and the number 3 is

the exponent.
• The exponent tells how many times the
base is used as a factor.
• An exponent of 1 can be omitted in a term such
as in 2y, xy, and -8x which means 2y1, x1y1,
and -8x1, respectively.
The following are read as follows:

42 four to the second power or four squared

23 two to the third power or two cube
x4 x to the fourth power or x to the fourth
B. Constants and Variables
• A symbol that represents an unknown number is referred to as a
variable. Symbols like x, y, a, α, β, θ can be used as
variables.
• A constant is a symbol which has exactly one number or a fixed
value in its replacement set. Any numeral is a constant such as
7, 4, and 11. Pi or is also a constant.
• Consider the expression, 4x2 + 3y + 2. The number 2 is a
constant. The letters x and y are the variables.
C. Literal Coefficients and Numerical
Coefficients
• The numerical factor of a term is called its numerical
coefficient or simply coefficient and the variable factor
of a term is called literal coefficient.

3x 2

3 numerical coefficient
x2 literal coefficient
C. Literal Coefficients and Numerical Coefficients
-x
-1 numerical coefficient
x literal coefficient
• Numerical coefficient is the number part of a term.
Literal coefficient is the variable including its exponent.
The word coefficient alone is referred to as the numerical
coefficient.
Complete the table.
Variables Numerical Literal
coefficients coefficients

4x y 3 2 4 xy2 2

2x5 2 x 5

–m n 4 2 -1 m4n2

x 2 1 x 2
D. Algebraic Expressions, Terms and
Polynomials
• Algebra is a branch of mathematics which generalizes
the facts of arithmetic. The result of combining symbols
such as letters, numbers, punctuations, and operations
of arithmetic is called an algebraic expression or
simply an expression.
D. Algebraic Expressions, Terms and
Polynomials
• A term is a constant or a variable or constants and
variables multiplied together.
Examples: 5, x, 5x4
• A polynomial is an algebraic expression that
represents a sum of one or more terms containing
whole-number exponents on the variables.
E. Number of terms, degree of the term and
degree of the polynomial
• Any algebraic expression separated from another
algebraic expressions by a plus (+) or a minus (-)
sign is called a term.

• There are four terms in the expressions

5x4 + 2x3y3 – xy – 7
namely, 5x4, 2x3y3, – xy, – 7.
Classification of Polynomials According to the
Number of Terms
B. Tell whether the given expression is a polynomial or not.
If it is a polynomial put a check and determine what kind of
polynomial according to the number of term it is.

1. 3x 3 /
___________ Monomial
___________

2. x2 – 5xy /
___________ Binomial
___________

3. – 10
/
___________ Monomial
___________

4. __________Not a polynomial
__________

5. –6 __________ __________
/ Binomial
E. Degree of the term and degree of the
polynomial

• The degree of a term is the exponent of its

variable
• The degree of the polynomial is the
highest degree appearing in any of the terms
in that polynomial.
C. Determine the degree of terms and degree of the
polynomial
Polynomial Degree of term/s Degree of Polynomial

1. 5x2 2
_____ 2
______

2. 15y 1
_____ 1
______

3. y4-10y-5y2 4, 1, 2
_____ 4
______

4. 5y+4y 3 1, 3
_____ 3
______
5. 6x4 + 3x5 + x 4, 5, 1
_____ 5
______
Example 1:
5x3 – 7x2 + 2x + 4
Number of terms : 4
Numerical Coefficients : 5, -7, 2, 4
Degree of polynomial : 3
Leading term : 5x3
Leading Coefficient : 5
Constant term : 4
Example 2:
2x3 – x2 + 7x
Number of terms : 3
Numerical Coefficients : 2, -1, 7
Degree of polynomial : 3
Leading term : 2x3
Leading Coefficient : 2
Constant term : 0
Example 3:
x + 2x2 - 6x3 + 9x4 + 1
Number of terms : 5
Numerical Coefficients : 9, -6, 2, 1, 1
Degree of polynomial : 4
Leading term : 9x4
Leading Coefficient : 9
Constant term : 1
Match each term in column A with the correct meaning in column B by writing the letter in
the space provided that corresponds to each item.
A B
_____1. Term A. The numerical factor in a term
_____2. Constant
B. Any combinations of numbers, variables, grouping,
_____3.Numerical coefficient
symbols and operation
_____4.Literal coefficient
_____5.Algebraic expressions C. The variable factor of a term
_____6. Algebra D. A symbol which represents any number from a given
_____7. Polynomial replacement set
_____8. Monomial E. a constant or variable multiplied together
_____9. Variables F. n in
_____10. Exponent G. A term with no variable or a term with fixed value
H. A branch of mathematics which generalizes the fact of
arithmetic
I. represents the sum of one or more terms
J. a polynomial with one term
Complete the table.
Polynomial A B C D E F
A. 2x2y + 4xy3 − 7xy
B. 4m2n2 − 3m3n4 − 7m2n4
C. 7x6 + 4x8 − 7x5 + 3
D. 4y − 7y3 + 2y2 + 25
E. 4x2y3z4 − 6xy4z5
Legend:
A. Degree of Polynomial D. Classification acc. to terms (ex. Monomial)
B. Leading Term E. Leading Coefficient
C. Constant Term F. Classification acc. to degree (ex. Linear)