Terms : In a sequence terms are separated by a comma , for example : 5,9,13, … here we have
3 terms given. But in algebraic equation and expressions term means the parts that are
7 3 2
separated by a plus or minus. So, in the expression 7𝑥 − 5𝑥 𝑦 + 3𝑦 has 3 terms which are,
7 3 2
7𝑥 , − 5𝑥 𝑦 , 3𝑦 as yuo can see the signs of the terms are also part of the term.
Polynomial : In a polynomial there can be one or more terms and the terms are product of
7 3 2
constant and non negative integer powers of the variables. For example, 7𝑥 − 5𝑥 𝑦 + 3𝑦 is a
polynomial whereas, , , are not polynomials since the
power of x in the first two are not non-negative and for the second one the power of n is not an
integer.
One variable polynomials : Let our one variable is x then the polynomials are of he form,
.... and so on. These polynomials
are represented as P(x)
Two variable polynomials : Let the variables be, x,y then ,
are exapkes of two variable polynomial,
and they are represented as P9x,y)
And similarly we can have 3 and more variable polynomials as well.
Degree of a term: The degree of a term of the polynomials is the sum of the powers of all the
7 3 2
variables, for example, 7𝑥 − 5𝑥 𝑦 + 3𝑦 here the first term has degree 7 , second one has
degree (3+1) = 4, and the last one has degree 2.
Degree of a polynomial : The degree of a polynomial is the degree of the term that has the
7 3 2
highest degree in the polynomial. So here 7𝑥 − 5𝑥 𝑦 + 3𝑦 the degree of this polynomial is 7
since 7 > 4 > 2.
Leading coefficient : The coefficient of the term with the highest degree in a polynomial is
called the leading coefficient . If we have two terms with highest degree then we order the terms
of the polynomial based on one of the variables then the one that comes first with highest
degree has the leading coefficient.
7 3 2
so , 7𝑥 − 5𝑥 𝑦 + 3𝑦 has leading coefficient 7 .
Multiplication and Division of polynomials : Multiplication and division of polynoamials
works the same way as you have learned for all these years. There are some properties of
multiplication and division of polynomials ,
Properties of multiplication and division :
Multiplication : If P(x) and Q(x) are two polynomials and when we multiply them we get
F(x) , or
● F(x) = P(x)Q(x)
● degree of F(x) = degree of P(x) + degree of Q(x) . and
● leading coefficient of F(x) = leading coefficient of P(x) × leading coefficient of Q(x) .
Division : If we divide F(x) by P(x) and get Q(x) as quotient and R(x) as remainder then,
we know that,
● F(x) = P(x)Q(x) + R(x) ,
● degree of F(x) = degree of P(x) + degree of Q(x)
● leading coefficient of F(x) = leading coefficient of P(x) × leading coefficient of Q(x) .
● degree of R(x) < degree of P(x)
Equality Rule of polynomial : If all the terms of a polynomial is equal to another polynomial
only then we can say that they are the same polynomial. So,
● ax+b = cx+d , then a=c and b=d ,
2 2
● Similarly if 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 𝑝𝑥 + 𝑞𝑥 + 𝑟 then a=p, b=q , c=r
Identity : If some equation is true for all values of the variables then it is called an identity
2 2 2
otherwise it is just a regular equation. For example, (𝑥 + 𝑦) = 𝑥 + 2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 here this
equation is true for all x and y. But 2x+3 = 5 is true for only x=1 so the first one an identity
whereas the second one is just an equation.
Homogeneous Polynomial : If the degree of all the terms of a polynomial are equal then that
polynomial is called a homogeneous polynomial. For example, here every
7 3 4
term has degree 2. But 7𝑥 − 5𝑥 𝑦 + 3𝑦 is a non- homogeneous polynomial.
Symmetric polynomial : If a polynomial has more then one variable and if we interchange any
two of them the polynomial stays the same then it is called a symmetric polynomial. For
2 2 2
example, is a symmetric polynomial. But 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 3𝑧
is not symmetric even though if we interchange x and y it remains same, but it changes if we
change x and z. So, if P(x,y,z) = P(x,z,y ) = P(y,x,z) = P(z,y,x) then it is symmetric polynomial.
Cyclic Polynomial : If we have a three variable polynomial and when we interchange the first
one with second one , the second one with the third one and the third one with the first and the
polynomial remains same then it is called a cyclic polynomial. Therefore, if P(x,y,z) = P(y,z,x)
then it is a cyclic polynomial. Cyclic expression is the same thing but for an expression.
Since for symmetric polynomial for all interchange the expression stays the same so it is also
cyclic. But all cyclic polynomial is not symmetric.
Rational Fraction : If the numerator and denominator of a fraction are polynomials then it is a
rational fraction.
Partial Fraction : If a given rational fraction is expressed as sum of two or more rational
fractions, then each of the later later fractions are called partial fraction of the first one.
