ALGEBRA (Review)

TERMINOLOGY
Expression – a number, a variable, or a combination
of numbers and variables using operation symbols.
Equation – refers to two expressions linked with an
equal sign. It means it is relating the two expressions
as having the same value.
Variable – a letter that represents a number whose
value may change.
Constant – a number whose value always stays the
same.
Coefficient - the constant that multiplies the variable
in a term.
Term – a part of expression that is a constant, a
variable, or the product of a constant and one or more
variables. Terms are separated by + and/or –.

EVALUATING EXPRESSIONS
To evaluate an expression, we substitute the given number for the variable in the expression and then
simplify the expression using the order of operations. The order of operations refers to which operation to
perform first in an expression. It is guided by the letters GEMDAS, which stands for Group, Exponent,
Multiplication & Division (from left to right), and Addition & Subtraction (from left to right).
Evaluate the 7n – 4, when (a) x = 5, (b) -1.
Computation:
(a) 7n – 4 = 7(5) – 4 = 35 – 4 = 31. Thus, the answer is 31.
(b) 7n – 4 = 7(-1) – 4 = -7 – 4 = -11. Thus, the answer is -11.

POLYNOMIAL
A polynomial is an expression whose variable/s is/are raised to a whole number. Examples of polynomials
𝟏
are x2, 12 + 5m, and y2 – 2y + √𝟏𝟔. But √𝒙𝟑 , 5 – , and y-2 – 2y + 4.
𝒎𝟐

Types of Polynomial (according to the number of terms)

Monomial – polynomial with 1 term (Ex. 8y3)
Binomial – polynomial with 2 terms (Ex. 4x + 7y)
Trinomial – polynomial with 3 terms (Ex. 2m2 – m + 10)
Multinomial – polynomial with more than 3 terms (Ex. x3 + 3x2 – 10x + 6)

OPERATIONS OF POLYNOMIAL
Combining Similar Term
Terms are considered similar if they are both constants or they both have the same variable/s raised to the
same exponent. Similar terms are combined by adding the coefficients and keeping the variable/s.
Example: Simply the following expression by combining similar terms.
1.) 2x + 4x = (2 + 4)x = 6x 3.) m – 9m = (1 – 9)m = -8m
2.) 7x2y – 5x2y = (7 – 5)x2y = 2x2y 4.) 3n2 – 5n + 5 – 2n2 + 11 = (3–2)n2 – 5n + (5+11) = n2 – 5n +16
 ALGEBRA (Review)
TERMINOLOGY
Expression – a number, a variable, or a combination
of numbers and variables using operation symbols.
Equation – refers to two expressions linked with an
equal sign. It means it is relating the two expressions
as having the same value.
Variable – a letter that represents a number whose
value may change.
Constant – a number whose value always stays the
same.
Coefficient - the constant that multiplies the variable
in a term.
Term – a part of expression that is a constant, a
variable, or the product of a constant and one or more
variables. Terms are separated by + and/or –.

EVALUATING EXPRESSIONS
To evaluate an expression, we substitute the given number for the variable in the expression and then
simplify the expression using the order of operations. The order of operations refers to which operation to
perform first in an expression. It is guided by the letters GEMDAS, which stands for Group, Exponent,
Multiplication & Division (from left to right), and Addition & Subtraction (from left to right).
Evaluate the 7n – 4, when (a) x = 5, (b) -1.
Computation:
(a) 7n – 4 = 7(5) – 4 = 35 – 4 = 31. Thus, the answer is 31.
(b) 7n – 4 = 7(-1) – 4 = -7 – 4 = -11. Thus, the answer is -11.

POLYNOMIAL
A polynomial is an expression whose variable/s is/are raised to a whole number. Examples of polynomials
𝟏
are x2, 12 + 5m, and y2 – 2y + √𝟏𝟔. But √𝒙𝟑 , 5 – , and y-2 – 2y + 4.
𝒎𝟐

Types of Polynomial (according to the number of terms)

Monomial – polynomial with 1 term (Ex. 8y3)
Binomial – polynomial with 2 terms (Ex. 4x + 7y)
Trinomial – polynomial with 3 terms (Ex. 2m2 – m + 10)
Multinomial – polynomial with more than 3 terms (Ex. x3 + 3x2 – 10x + 6)

OPERATIONS OF POLYNOMIAL
Combining Similar Term
Terms are considered similar if they are both constants or they both have the same variable/s raised to the
same exponent. Similar terms are combined by adding the coefficients and keeping the variable/s.
Example: Simply the following expression by combining similar terms.
1.) 2x + 4x = (2 + 4)x = 6x 3.) m – 9m = (1 – 9)m = -8m
2.) 7x2y – 5x2y = (7 – 5)x2y = 2x2y 4.) 3n2 – 5n + 5 – 2n2 + 11 = (3–2)n2 – 5n + (5+11) = n2 – 5n +16
Adding Polynomials
To add polynomials, we remove the grouping symbols and combine similar terms afterwards.
Example 1. Solve (n3 + n) + (2n3 – 20). Example 2. Solve (2m2n – mn + 9) + (3m2n + mn – 15)
n3 + n 2m2n – mn + 9
+ n3 – 20 + 3m2n + mn – 15
2n2 + n – 20 5m2n + 0 + (-6) = 5m2n – 6

Example 3. Find the sum of (-5k + 5) + (4k – 4).

(-5k + 5) + (4k – 4) = -5k + 5 + 4k – 4 = -5k + 4k + 5 – 4 = (-5 + 4)k + (5 – 4) = (-1)k + 1 = – k + 1

Subtracting Polynomials
To subtract polynomials, we apply Keep-Change-Change. Keep the 1st expression, change the operation
to addition, and change the sign/s of each of the term in the 2nd expression. Then, proceed in adding the
expressions.
Example 1. Get the difference of (-2x – 3) – (4x2 – x).
(-2x – 3) – (4x2 – x) = (-2x – 3) + (-4x2 + x) = -2x – 3 + (-4x2) + x = -4x2 – 2x + x – 3
= -4x2 + (-2 + 1)x – 3 = -4x2 + (-1)x – 3 = -4x2 – x – 3

Example 2. Get the difference of (2y3 – 3y) – (-8y3 – y2).

2y3 – 3y Applying Keep-Change-Change 2y3 – 3y
– -8y3 – y2 the problem becomes ⇒ + 8y3 + y2
10y3 + y2 – 3y
Multiplying Monomials
In multiplying monomials, we multiply both the coefficients and variables. The coefficients are multiplied
using the method of multiplying numbers. And the variables are multiplied using the law of exponent
Product of Powers (xn ⋅ xm = xn+m, where n and m are any real numbers).
Example: Find the product of the following expressions.
1.) (2m2)(5m3) = (2⋅5)m2+3 = 10m5 3.) -3a(8a3) = (-3)(8)a1+3 = -24a4
2.) (7x2)(7y2) = (7⋅7)x2y2 4.) (-5mn4)(-6m2n) = (-5)(-6)m1+2n4+1 = 30m3n5

Multiplying Polynomials
To multiply polynomials, we multiply each of the term of one expression to each of the term of the other
expression. Thus, applying the Distributive Property of multiplication: a(b ± c) = ab ± ac, where a, b, and c
are any real numbers. Then finally, simplify the result.
Example 1: Multiply 5n and 4n2 – 2mn. Example 2: Solve (x – y)(2x + 2y).
(5n)(4n2 – 2mn) = (5n)(4n2 + (-2mn) ) (x – y)(2x + 2y) = 2x(x – y) + 2y(x – y)
= (4n2)(5n) + (-2mn)(5n) = (x)(2x) + (-y)(2x) + (x)(2y) + (-y)(2y)
= (4)(5)n2+1 + (-2)(5)mn1+1 = 2x2 + (-2xy) + 2xy + (-2y2)
= 20n3 + (-10)mn2 = 2x2 + (-2 + 2)xy – 2y2
= 20n3 – 10mn2 = 2x2 + (0)xy – 2y2
= 2x2 + 0 – 2y2
= 2x2 – 2y2
Adding Polynomials
To add polynomials, we remove the grouping symbols and combine similar terms afterwards.
Example 1. Solve (n3 + n) + (2n3 – 20). Example 2. Solve (2m2n – mn + 9) + (3m2n + mn – 15)
n3 + n 2m2n – mn + 9
+ n3 – 20 + 3m2n + mn – 15
2n2 + n – 20 5m2n + 0 + (-6) = 5m2n – 6

Example 3. Find the sum of (-5k + 5) + (4k – 4).

(-5k + 5) + (4k – 4) = -5k + 5 + 4k – 4 = -5k + 4k + 5 – 4 = (-5 + 4)k + (5 – 4) = (-1)k + 1 = – k + 1

Subtracting Polynomials
To subtract polynomials, we apply Keep-Change-Change. Keep the 1st expression, change the operation
to addition, and change the sign/s of each of the term in the 2nd expression. Then, proceed in adding the
expressions.
Example 1. Get the difference of (-2x – 3) – (4x2 – x).
(-2x – 3) – (4x2 – x) = (-2x – 3) + (-4x2 + x) = -2x – 3 + (-4x2) + x = -4x2 – 2x + x – 3
= -4x2 + (-2 + 1)x – 3 = -4x2 + (-1)x – 3 = -4x2 – x – 3

Example 2. Get the difference of (2y3 – 3y) – (-8y3 – y2).

2y3 – 3y Applying Keep-Change-Change 2y3 – 3y
– -8y3 – y2 the problem becomes ⇒ + 8y3 + y2
10y3 + y2 – 3y
Multiplying Monomials
In multiplying monomials, we multiply both the coefficients and variables. The coefficients are multiplied
using the method of multiplying numbers. And the variables are multiplied using the law of exponent
Product of Powers (xn ⋅ xm = xn+m, where n and m are any real numbers).
Example: Find the product of the following expressions.
1.) (2m2)(5m3) = (2⋅5)m2+3 = 10m5 3.) -3a(8a3) = (-3)(8)a1+3 = -24a4
2.) (7x2)(7y2) = (7⋅7)x2y2 4.) (-5mn4)(-6m2n) = (-5)(-6)m1+2n4+1 = 30m3n5

Multiplying Polynomials
To multiply polynomials, we multiply each of the term of one expression to each of the term of the other
expression. Thus, applying the Distributive Property of multiplication: a(b ± c) = ab ± ac, where a, b, and c
are any real numbers. Then finally, simplify the result.
Example 1: Multiply 5n and 4n2 – 2mn. Example 2: Solve (x – y)(2x + 2y).
(5n)(4n2 – 2mn) = (5n)(4n2 + (-2mn) ) (x – y)(2x + 2y) = 2x(x – y) + 2y(x – y)
= (4n2)(5n) + (-2mn)(5n) = (x)(2x) + (-y)(2x) + (x)(2y) + (-y)(2y)
= (4)(5)n2+1 + (-2)(5)mn1+1 = 2x2 + (-2xy) + 2xy + (-2y2)
= 20n3 + (-10)mn2 = 2x2 + (-2 + 2)xy – 2y2
= 20n3 – 10mn2 = 2x2 + (0)xy – 2y2
= 2x2 + 0 – 2y2
= 2x2 – 2y2