8-1 Adding and Subtracting Polynomials
Quick Review
A monomial is a number, a variable, or a product of a number and one or more variables. A polynomial is a monomial or the sum of two or more monomials. The degree of a polynomial in one variable is the same as the degree of the monomial with the greatest exponent. To add two polynomials, add the like terms of the polynomials. To subtract a polynomial, add the opposite of the polynomial.
Example
What is the difference of
3
x
3
−
7
x
2
+
5
3 x cubed , minus , 7 x squared , plus 5 and
2
x
2
−
9
x
−
1
?
2 x squared , minus 9 x minus 1 question mark
(
3
x
3
−
7
x
2
+
5
)
−
(
2
x
2
−
9
x
−
1
)
=
3
x
3
−
7
x
2
+
5
−
2
x
2
+
9
x
+
1
=
3
x
3
+
(
−
7
x
2
−
2
x
2
)
+
9
x
+
(
1
+
5
)
=
3
x
3
−
9
x
2
+
9
x
+
6
table with 4 rows and 2 columns , row1 column 1 , , column 2 open , 3 x cubed , minus , 7 x squared , plus 5 close minus open , 2 x squared , minus 9 x minus 1 close , row2 column 1 , , column 2 equals , 3 x cubed , minus , 7 x squared , plus 5 minus , 2 x squared , plus 9 x plus 1 , row3 column 1 , , column 2 equals , 3 x cubed , plus open negative , 7 x squared , minus , 2 x squared , close plus 9 x plus open 1 plus 5 close , row4 column 1 , , column 2 equals , 3 x cubed , minus , 9 x squared , plus 9 x plus 6 , end table
Exercises
Write each polynomial in standard form. Then name each polynomial based on its degree and number of terms.
-
4
r
+
3
−
9
r
2
+
7
r
4 r plus 3 minus , 9 r squared , plus 7 r
-
3
+
b
3
+
b
2
3 plus , b cubed , plus , b squared
-
3
+
8
t
2
3 plus , 8 t squared
-
n
3
+
4
n
5
+
n
−
n
3
n cubed , plus , 4 n to the fifth , plus n minus , n cubed
-
7
x
2
+
8
+
6
x
−
7
x
2
7 x squared , plus 8 plus 6 x minus , 7 x squared
-
p
3
q
3
p cubed , q cubed
Simplify. Write each answer in standard form.
-
(
2
v
3
−
v
+
8
)
+
(
−
v
3
+
v
−
3
)
open , 2 v cubed , minus v plus 8 close plus open negative , v cubed , plus v minus 3 close
-
(
6
s
4
+
7
s
2
+
7
)
+
(
8
s
4
−
11
s
2
+
9
s
)
open , 6 s to the fourth , plus , 7 s squared , plus 7 close plus open , 8 s to the fourth , minus , 11 s squared , plus 9 s close
-
(
4
h
3
+
3
h
+
1
)
−
(
−
5
h
3
+
6
h
−
2
)
open , 4 h cubed , plus 3 h plus 1 close minus open negative , 5 h cubed , plus 6 h minus 2 close
-
(
8
z
3
−
3
z
2
−
7
)
−
(
z
3
−
z
2
+
9
)
open , 8 z cubed , minus , 3 z squared , minus 7 close minus open , z cubed , minus , z squared , plus 9 close
8-2 Multiplying and Factoring
Quick Review
You can multiply a monomial and a polynomial using the Distributive Property. You can factor a polynomial by finding the greatest common factor (GCF) of the terms of the polynomial.
Example
What is the factored form of
10
y
4
−
12
y
3
+
4
y
2
?
10 y to the fourth , minus , 12 y cubed , plus , 4 y squared , question mark
First find the GCF of the terms of the polynomial.
10
y
4
=
2
·
5
·
y
·
y
·
y
·
y
12
y
3
=
2
·
2
·
3
·
y
·
y
·
y
4
y
2
=
2
·
2
·
y
·
y
table with 3 rows and 2 columns , row1 column 1 , 10 y to the fourth , column 2 equals 2 middle dot 5 middle dot y middle dot y middle dot y middle dot y , row2 column 1 , 12 y cubed , column 2 equals 2 middle dot 2 middle dot 3 middle dot y middle dot y middle dot y , row3 column 1 , 4 y squared , column 2 equals 2 middle dot 2 middle dot y middle dot y , end table
The GCF is
2
·
y
·
y
or
2
y
2
.
2 middle dot y middle dot y , or . 2 y squared , .
Then factor out the GCF.
10
y
4
−
12
y
3
+
4
y
2
=
2
y
2
(
5
y
2
)
+
2
y
2
(
−
6
y
)
+
2
y
2
(
2
)
=
2
y
2
(
5
y
2
−
6
y
+
2
)
table with 2 rows and 2 columns , row1 column 1 , 10 y to the fourth , minus , 12 y cubed , plus , 4 y squared , column 2 equals , 2 y squared , open , 5 y squared , close plus , 2 y squared , open negative 6 y close plus , 2 y squared , open 2 close , row2 column 1 , , column 2 equals , 2 y squared , open , 5 y squared , minus 6 y plus 2 close , end table
Exercises
Simplify each product. Write in standard form.
-
5
k
(
3
−
4
k
)
5 k open 3 minus 4 k close
-
4
m
(
2
m
+
9
m
2
−
6
)
4 m open 2 m plus , 9 m squared , minus 6 close
-
6
g
2
(
g
−
8
)
6 g squared , open g minus 8 close
-
3
d
(
6
d
+
d
2
)
3 d open 6 d plus , d squared , close
-
−
2
n
2
(
5
n
−
9
+
4
n
2
)
negative , 2 n squared , open 5 n minus 9 plus , 4 n squared , close
-
q
(
11
+
8
q
−
2
q
2
)
q open 11 plus 8 q minus , 2 q squared , close
Find the GCF of the terms of each polynomial. Then factor the polynomial.
-
12
p
4
+
16
p
3
+
8
p
12 p to the fourth , plus , 16 p cubed , plus 8 p
-
3
b
4
−
9
b
2
+
6
b
3 b to the fourth , minus , 9 b squared , plus 6 b
-
45
c
5
−
63
c
3
+
27
c
45 c to the fifth , minus , 63 c cubed , plus 27 c
-
4
g
2
+
8
g
4 g squared , plus 8 g
-
3
t
4
−
6
t
3
−
9
t
+
12
3 t to the fourth , minus , 6 t cubed , minus 9 t plus 12
-
30
h
5
−
6
h
4
−
15
h
3
30 h to the fifth , minus , 6 h to the fourth , minus , 15 h cubed
-
Reasoning The GCF of two numbers p and q is 5. Can you find the GCF of 6p and 6q? Explain your answer.