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Module 17.

1
Understanding
Polynomial Expressions
What are polynomial expressions, and how do you simplify them?

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P. 805
A monomial is an expression consisting of a number, variable, or
product of numbers and variables that have whole number exponents.

A monomial cannot have:


• More than one term
• A variable in its denominator
• Fractional exponents
The degree of a monomial is the sum of the exponents of the variables. P. 805
A constant has a degree of 0.
Monomial Degree
8 0
𝑥 1
𝑥𝑦 2
6𝑥𝑦 2
2𝑥 2 2
4𝑥𝑦 2 3
9𝑎2 𝑏 2 4
21𝑎3 𝑏2 5
152𝑝3 𝑞3 6
A polynomial can have any number of terms.
A binomial has 2 terms. For example: 𝒙 + 𝟕 𝑜𝑟 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙
A trinomial has 3 terms. For example: 𝟏𝟔𝒓𝟐 + 𝟐𝟎𝒓 − 𝟕
Beyond that, it is a “Polynomial of n terms”, where n is that number.
For example: 𝟐𝟐𝒓𝟒 + 𝟔𝒓𝟑 + 𝟐𝒓𝟐 − 𝟖𝒓 − 𝟒 is a Polynomial of 5 terms.
Polynomials also have Degrees. The Degree of a polynomial is P. 806
the largest of the degrees of the individual monomials.

Polynomials are classified by both the number of terms they contain,


and their degree.
P. 807

6th Degree Binomial


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P. 807
The Standard Form Of A Polynomial Containing Only One Variable

The 1st term will have the greatest degree, the 2nd term will have
the next greatest degree, and so on, until the final term, which will
have the lowest degree.

For example: A Quartic polynomial

Quartic Quadratic Linear Constant


Term Term Term Term

When written in this form, the coefficient of the first term is called
the Leading Coefficient.
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P. 808

Is the leading coefficient always the largest of the coefficients?

Can the leading coefficient be negative?


How Do You Simplify Polynomials?

Given

1) Rearrange it in
descending degrees

2) Identify like terms


and group them together

3) Combine them by
adding their coefficients
Remember the invisible 1
Again - How Do You Simplify Polynomials?
Given

1) Rearrange it in
descending degrees.

2) Identify like terms and


group them together.

3) Combine them by adding


their coefficients.

4) Include the terms


that are left over, if any.
P. 809
1) Rearrange in
descending degrees
2) Identify like terms and
group them together
3) Combine them by
adding their coefficients.

Terms can have more than one variable to be considered alike –


as long as the powers are the same.
P. 810

Which properties of addition allow you to rearrange


and add the coefficients of the expression?
P. 810
Given a polynomial expression describing a real-world situation and a
specific value for the variable(s), evaluate the polynomial by substituting
for the variable(s). Then interpret the result.
P. 810
P. 811

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