Notes 7-4

Adding and
Subtracting
Polynomials
Just as you can perform operations on
numbers, you can perform operations on
polynomials. To add or subtract polynomials,
combine like terms.

I. Like Terms are terms with the

same variable(s) raised to the same
power.
To simplify expressions combine like
terms by adding the coefficients
 II. Adding and Subtracting Monomials

Add.

A. 12p3 + 11p2 + 8p3

12p3 + 11p2 + 8p3 Identify like terms.
12p3 + 8p3 + 11p2 Rearrange terms so that like
terms are together.
20p3 + 11p2 Combine like terms.
B. 5x2 + 6 + 3x + 8
5x2 + 6 + 3x + 8 Identify like terms.
Rearrange terms so that like
5x2 + 3x + 8 + 6
terms are together.
5x2 + 3x + 14 Combine like terms.
Add or Subtract.
C. t2 + 2s2 + 4t2 - s2
t2 + 2s2 + 4t2 - s2 Identify like terms.
t2 + 4t2 + 2s2 - s2 Rearrange terms so that like
terms are together.
5t2 + s2 Combine like terms.
D. 10m2n - 4m2n + 8m2n
10m2n - 4m2n + 8m2n Identify like terms.
14m2n Combine like terms.
 III. Adding Polynomials

Use the Associative and Commutative Properties to

regroup and combine like terms.

When adding, simply ignore the parentheses and add like terms.

Ex. A (5x2 + 4x + 1) + (2x2 + 5x + 2)

5x2 + 4x + 1 + 2x2 + 5x + 2

= 7x2 + 9x + 3
Add.

B. (4m2 + 5) + (m2 – m + 6)
4m2 + 5 + m2 – m + 6 Identify like terms.
Combine like terms.
5m2 – m + 11

On your whiteboard

C. (10xy + x) + (–3xy + y)
10xy + x + –3xy + y Identify like terms.

7xy + x + y Combine like terms.

 On your whiteboard

Add.
D. (6x2 – 4y) + (3x2 + 3y – 8x2 – 2y)

6x2 – 4y + 3x2 + 3y – 8x2 – 2y

Remove parentheses and
identify like terms.

x2 – 3y Combine like terms.

 Writing Math
When you use the Associative and Commutative
Properties to rearrange the terms, the sign in
front of each term must stay with that term.
 On your whiteboard

Add (5a3 + 3a2 – 6a + 12a2) + (7a3 – 10a).

Remove parentheses
5a3 + 3a2 – 6a + 12a2 + 7a3 – 10a
and identify like terms.

12a3 + 15a2 – 16a Combine like terms.

 IV. Subtracting Polynomials

To subtract polynomials, remember that a

negative in front of parentheses is a -1
that needs to be distributed.

–(2x3 – 3x + 7) = –2x3 + 3x – 7
A. Subtract.
(x3 + 4y) – (2x3)
Distribute the -1
(x3 + 4y) -1(2x3)

x3 + 4y – 2x3 Identify like terms.

–x3 + 4y Combine like terms.
B. Subtract

(7m4 – 2m2) – (5m4 – 5m2 + 8)

Distribute the -1
(7m4 – 2m2) -1(5m4 - 5m2 + 8)

7m4 – 2m2 – 5m4 + 5m2 – 8 Identify like terms.

2m4 + 3m2 – 8 Combine like terms.

Subtract.
(–10x2 – 3x + 7) – (x2 – 9)

(–10x2 – 3x + 7) -1(x2 - 9) Distribute the -1.

–10x2 – 3x + 7 –x2 + 9 Identify like terms.

–11x2 – 3x + 16 Combine like terms.

C. Subtract
(9q2 – 3q) – (q2 – 5)
Rewrite subtraction as
(9q2 – 3q) -1(q2 - 5)
addition of the opposite.
9q2 – 3q –q2 + 5 Identify like terms.

Combine like terms.

8q2 – 3q + 5
 On the White Board

D. Subtract
(2x2 – 3x2 + 1) – (x2 + x + 1)

(2x2 – 3x2 + 1) -1(x2 + x + 1) Distribute the -1.

2x2 – 3x2 + 1 –x2 – x – 1 Identify like terms.

–2x2 – x

Combine like terms.

 V. Applications
1. A farmer must add the areas of two plots of
land to determine the amount of seed to plant.
The area of plot A can be represented by 3x2 +
7x – 5, and the area of plot B can be
represented by 5x2 – 4x + 11. Write a
polynomial that represents the total area of both
plots of land.

(3x2 + 7x – 5) Plot A.
+ (5x2 – 4x + 11) Plot B.
8x2 + 3x + 6 Combine like terms.
Write an expression that represents the perimeter of
the shaded region in terms of x.
1) x+2

2 3
Add all sides together
(x + 2) + 3 + 6 + 2 + (2x + 5) + 6 + 3
6

2x + 5
Combine like terms
3x + 27
 Write an expression that represents the perimeter of
the shaded region in terms of x.
2) Add all sides together
9
9 + (3x+7) + 9 + (3x + 7)
3x + 7
Combine like terms
6x + 32
3. The profits of two different
manufacturing plants can be
modeled as shown, where x is
the number of units produced
at each plant.

Use the information above to write a polynomial that

represents the total profits from both plants.

–0.03x2 + 25x – 1500 Eastern plant profits

+ –0.02x2 + 21x – 1700 Southern plant profits
–0.05x2 + 46x – 3200 Combine like terms.
4. A painter must add the areas of two walls to
determine the amount of paint needed. The area
of the first wall is modeled by 4x2 + 12x + 9, and
the area of the second wall is modeled by
36x2 – 12x + 1. Write a polynomial that
represents the total area of the two walls.
40x2 + 10
 Lesson Quiz: Part I
Add or subtract.
11m2 + 3m
1. 7m2 + 3m + 4m2
18pq – 2p
2. (10pq + 3p) + (2pq – 5p + 6pq)

3. (14d2 – 8) + (6d2 – 2d + 1) 20d2 – 2d – 7

8d2 + 2d – 9
4. (14d2 – 8) - (6d2 – 2d + 1)

5. (2.5ab + 14b) – (–1.5ab + 4b) 4ab + 10b

6. A painter must add the areas of two walls to
determine the amount of paint needed. The area
of the first wall is modeled by 4x2 + 12x +
9, and the area of the second wall is modeled by
36x2 – 12x + 1. Write a polynomial that 40x2 + 10
represents the total area of the two walls.