Ch 10.
2 Polynomials
Key Points
→ A monomial is an algebraic expression with only one term. It can be
2
(i) a number, e.g. 1, –4, , 3.2, (ii) a variable with a positive integral index, e.g. x, a2, b3,
3
(iii) the product of a number and variable(s), each with a positive integral index, e.g. 3t, –4xy.
2. For a monomial containing variable(s),
(i) the coefficient of the monomial: its numerical part
(ii) the degree (or order) of the monomial: the sum of the indices (or powers) of all the variables
1. Determine whether each of the following algebraic expressions is a monomial. If it is, put a
‘✓’ in the box; otherwise, put a ‘’.
✓ xyz −5a 2b6 -gm X
9 P
X 3x
M
x+ y
~000
2
4 X
X − 2 6 x5 + 4 x3 0
99x 99 xy
x
2. Complete the following table.
the number
Monomial 35p15 −O'xy 4 B 8a 6 b 3
3
−100x5 y 6 z 7
35
before - Coefficient -
100
the variable
Degree
T
a 18
add all the
power
→ Monomials that contain the same variable(s) to the same power(s) are called like terms.
Otherwise, they are called unlike terms.
3. In each of the following, write down all the like terms on the answer line provided.
x+
(a) 3x, 3x2,
x
, x3, 3 - 3x ,
3
(b) −6, −6y, grearth
6xy, y,
6-
y -
by ,
yet
(c) xy2, x2y, −8yx2, 8x2, 8y2
xiy By x =
1
highesteme
4. Complete the following table. only Xvariable
number
Coefficient of X
Number Constant Degree of
Polynomial
Y of terms x3 x2 x term polynomial
(a) x3 – 2x2 + x – 1 + 1 4 1 –2 1 -
I 3
4
↑
(b) x3 – x2 + 4x – 2 1 1 –2 3
-
(c) x + 4x3 – 8 4 OI -
83
2
x x
(d)
·t−
2 5 20-5 0 2
(e) 4
O 3
x + 4x +2x – 8 3
3 600 -
84
TandG
5. Complete the following table.
Number of Constant Degree of
Polynomial
terms term polynomial
(a) 7 + 3x2y – 5y2 3 +7 2
rs 2 + 4rs 3 + r 4 s 3 4
i
(b)
1
(c) −
3
+ m3n 2 + mn6 − 7 n5
min8 3 .
(d) 8 + 3z2y – 5y2+2y2
3 +8 2
Key Points
Arrangement of terms
e.g. Consider the polynomial 3x – 4x2 – 2x3 + 5.
(i) Arranged in descending powers of x: –2x3 – 4x2 + 3x + 5
(ii) Arranged in ascending powers of x: 5 + 3x – 4x2 – 2x3
Note: For a polynomial in two or more variables, its terms can also be arranged in descending powers or ascending powers of
one of the variables.
e.g. Consider the polynomial 2x3y + xy3 + 5x2 – 3y2.
(i) Arranged in descending powers of x: 2x3y + 5x2 + xy3 – 3y2
(ii) Arranged in descending powers of y: xy3 – 3y2 + 2x3y + 5x2
6. Arrange the terms of the following polynomials in descending powers of the variables, and in
ascending powers of the variables.
Descending power Ascending power
(a) 8x2+ 4x3 + 9x – 6 4x + 84 + 9x 69-684
________________________
-
*
________________________
(b) –3 + y2 + 7y3 – 5y – y6 y Tyty25y -3
________________________
+
3 - 5yty 7p y
________________________
+
-
- -
2
7. Arrange the terms of the following polynomials in descending powers of x, and in ascending
powers of x.
Descending power Ascending power
(a) −4 x 2 y − x5 + 7 xy 3 − 2 -
-Prytixys
________________________
2 -
________________________
92y3 2x2y*+
(b) xy5 − 2 x 2 y 4 + 3 − 9 x3 y3 ________________________
-
-
+3
xy5 ________________________
Key Points
Polynomials containing like terms can be simplified by adding or subtracting the coefficients of the like terms.
e.g. 2+4 2–4
(i) 2x + 4x = 6x (ii) 2a2 – 4a2 = –2a2
8. Simplify the following polynomials.
(a) 6x2 + 3x – 7x2 – 8x (b) 5ac – 6ab + 4ba – 6ac
= 6x2 7x+ 3x 84 = 5ac-lab-bac
- -
= ( xy ( 5x) Note that ab = ba.
5ac-Gac-Zab
+
-
=
-ac-2ab
(c) 2ab2 + 3ba2 – 5b – 4b2a (d) –x3y + 7xy3 + 5y3x – 9yx3
= Zab2 4 ba -
=
=
-2ab2 + 3ba2 5b -
= ab" 5b -
9. Simplify the following polynomials and arrange the terms in descending powers of x. ~ Example 10.5
3 3 2 2 2 2
(a) 10x + 6x + 3 – 7x – 9x (b) 6ax – 9a x + a x – 4x a
= 10x-9x + 6x-7435 = Gax-4xa-9axtax
= X + - +3
3 = 2ax2 -
8a2x
= -
x3 + x + 3
3
10. Simplify the following polynomials and arrange the terms in ascending powers of y.
(a) 7y3 + 6y2 – 9 – 3y2 + 9y3 – 8 (b) x2y – 9x5 – y3x – 4yx2 + 5y3x
= =
Key Points
When the values of the variables in a polynomial are given, we can find the value of the polynomial by substitution.
e.g. Consider the polynomial 8x2 – 4x + 11.
When x = 0, the value of the polynomial = 8(0)2 – 4(0) + 11 = 11
2
11. Find the value of the polynomial 3 x 2 − x − 4 in each of the following cases.
3
1
(a) x = −3 (b) x =
3
Solution
(a) 3x2 -
5X -
4 (b) 3x2 -
54- 4
= 3x55 -
5x55 -
4
= 3( 3) -
-
573) -
4
=
3x15 - T 4
-
= 3x9 -
55x-5 -
4
- 4
= 255
-
( 2) 4
4 =a 4 = -
= 27
-
-
+
-
35
=
= -
12. Find the value of the polynomial − 4 pq + 5 p − q + 1 in each of the following cases.
2 2
1
(a) p = −4, q = 3
if p
= -
4 ,
g 3
=
(b) p = − , q = −2
5 if p = -
5 , q = -2
17
Solution
(a) -
↑pq2+ 5 p2-g + / (b) -
4092+5p2 g +
= -
4(4)x32+ 5x( 4)2 + 1 -
4
= (6x9 + 90 + /
= 144 + 90
= viz
4
13. Consider the polynomial x3 + (k + 2)x2 – 3kx – 4k +3, where k is an unknown constant. It is
given that the coefficient of x2 of the polynomial is 5. x3
+ 5x2 3kx-4kt -
(a) Find the value of k. * 3 + 5x2 3x5x 4x3+ 3
-
-
(b) Find the value of the polynomial when x = –1. = x3+ 5x2- 15x-12+3
Solution if x =-
(a) k+ 2 = 5 (b)
15
( 1 +5 ( - 1)2 151-1)
-
k = 5 2
-
= +1)+ 5x1 -
(15) -
15
k=3 = 4 + 15 -
12+3
= 19-15
=
4
14. When x = 2, the value of the polynomial 2kx3 – 12k + 7x is 2, where k is an unknown constant.
(a) Find the value of k.
(b) Find the value of the polynomial when x = –2.
Solution
(a) 2k *3-12k + >x = 2 (b) 2kx" - 12k + 7 = 2
When x = 2
2 2( 3)x 12 (-3)+ 7y = 2
2kx23 12k + 7x2 =
- -
2kx8 =
12k + 14 = 2
-
6x + 36 + 7x = 2
if X =
-
2
16k -
12k + 14 = 2
(6) ( 2)3+ 36 + 7(2)
4k = 2
-
14
= 6)( 8) + 36 + ( 14) -
12 = 4
-
k= -
=48 + 36 -
14
k =
3
-
=84 -
14
= 70
