Review Material: The Four Fundamental Operations on Polynomials
Answer the Practice Exercises on one whole sheet of paper. Submit on Thursday September 4, 2025.
1. Addition of Polynomials
Concept:
Combine like terms (terms with the same variable raised to the same exponent).
Example: (3 x 2+ 5 x +2)+( 4 x 2−3 x+1)
( 3 x 2+ 5 x +2 ) + ( 4 x 2−3 x +1 )=( 3 x 2 +4 x2 ) + (5 x−3 x ) +(2+ 1)
2
¿ 7 x + 2 x +3
Addition Practice Problems:
1. (2 x 2+3 x +1)+(4 x 2+2 x +5)
2. (5 a2 −4 a+7)+(3 a 2+ 6 a−2)
3. (7 y 3 +2 y 2−5)+(4 y 3− y 2 +5 y +3)
4. (9 m 4 −5 m 3−6 m 2+ m)+(2m 4 + 8 m 2−4 m−8)
5. (x 5 +2 x 3 + x )+(3 x 5−x 3−2 x)
2. Subtraction of Polynomials
Concept:
Distribute the negative sign across the second polynomial, then combine like terms.
Example: (6 x 2 +3 x+7)−(2 x 2−5 x+12)
( 6 x 2 +3 x+7 )−( 2 x 2−5 x +12 )=( 6 x 2 +3 x+ 7 ) −2 x 2 +5 x−12
¿ ( 6 x 2−2 x 2 )+ ( 3 x +5 x ) +(7−12)
2
¿ 4 x +8 x−5
Subtraction Practice Problems:
1. ( 4 x 3+2 x 2 +7)−( x3 +5 x 2+ 3)
2. (9 a 4−3 a2+ 2 a)−(6 a4 +5 a 2−4 a)
3. (12 y 3−7 y + 4)−( 8 y 2−3 y +6)
4. (5 m 5 +9 m3−2 m)−(3 m 5−7 m3 +m)
5. (2 x 4 +3 x 2+5 x−1)−( x 4−x 3 +2 x 2−3)
3. Multiplication of Polynomials
Concept:
Apply the distributive property (or use FOIL for binomials).
Multiply coefficients, then add exponents for like bases.
Example: (x +2)(x−3)
( x +2 ) ( x −3 )=( x +2 ) ( x )+(x +2)(−3)Using distributive
¿ ( x 2 +2 x ) +(−3 x−6)
2
¿ x + ( 2 x−3 x )−6
2
¿ x −x−6
( x +2 ) ( x −3 )=x∗x + x∗(−3)+2∗x +2(−3) Using FOIL
2
¿ x −3 x+ 2 x−6
2
¿ x −x−6
Multiplication Practice Problems:
1. (x +5)(x+ 2)
2. (3 a+ 4)(2 a−1)
3. ( x 2 +2 x +3)( x +1)
4. (2 y−3)( y 2 + 4 y +1)
5. (m 2 +2 m+1)(m 2−m+3)
4. Division of Polynomials
Concept:
Division can be done using long division.
Example: (x 2 +3 x +2)÷( x+ 1)= x+2
x +2
2
x +1 ⟌ x +3 x+ 2
2
−x + x
2 x +2
−2 x +2
0
Division Practice Problems:
1. ( x 2 +5 x +6) ÷( x +2)
2. (2 x 2+7 x +3)÷ (x+ 1)
3. (6 a 2−5 a−6)÷( 2 a+3)
4. (x 3 +2 x 2−x −2)÷(x +2)
5. (3 m 3−2 m 2+ 5 m−4) ÷(m−1)
Video on Adding, Subtracting, Multiplying and Dividing Polynomials: https://youtu.be/ZvL9aDGNHqA
