Big Picture in Focus:

ULO-a. Understand different algebraic expressions.

Metalanguage
This section will serve as your word bank where the most essential terms
relevant to the introduction of algebra and ULO-a will be operationally defined to
establish a common frame of reference. You will encounter these terms as we delve
deeper to the study of Algebra and Trigonometry. Please refer to these definitions
in case you will find it difficult to understand mathematical concepts in relation with
calculus.

1. Variable. It is a quantity which, during any set of mathematical operations, does

not retain the same value but is capable of assuming different values.
2. Algebraic Expressions. It is an expression built up from integer constants,
variables, and the algebraic operations.
3. Constant. It is a quantity which, during any set of mathematical operations,
retains the same value.
4. Term. It is number or a product of a number and variables raised to powers.
5. Polynomial. It is an algebraic expression in which the exponents of every
variable are a whole number and there are no variables in the denominator.
6. Exponent. It is a number that says how many times to use that number in a
multiplication.
7. Integer. It is a whole number that can be positive, negative or zero.
Essential Knowledge

To perform the aforesaid big picture (unit learning outcomes) for the first
three (3) weeks of this course, you need to fully understand the following essential
knowledge that will be laid down in the succeeding pages. Please note that you are
not limited to exclusively refer to these resources. Thus, you are expected to utilize
other books, research articles and other resources that are available in the
university’s library (refer to the Library Contact on page 3).

1. Algebraic Expression is an expression built up from integer constants,

variables, and the algebraic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication,
division).

exponent

For example: 3 x2 – 2 xy + c is an algebraic expression.

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 constant variable

2. Integers are like whole numbers, but they also include negative numbers.

So, integers can be negative {−1, −2,−3, −4, ... }, positive {1, 2, 3, 4, ... }, or zero
{0}

We can put that all together like this:

Integers = { ..., −4, −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, ... }

3. Exponent is a number that gives the power to which a base is raised. For
example, in 42, the base is 4 and exponent is 2.

Exponent should NOT be misunderstood as “power”. If we write 3 2 = 9, then 3 is

the base, 2 is the exponent and 9 is the power.

The exponential notion states that if a is a real number, variable or algebraic

expression and n is a positive number, then:

𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎 ∙ 𝑎 ∙ 𝑎 ∙ 𝑎 ….

n factor
3.1 The properties of exponents with corresponding
examples:

Property Example
𝒂𝒎 . 𝒂𝒏 = 𝒂𝒎+𝒏 𝒙𝟐 . 𝒙𝟑 = 𝒙𝟐+𝟑 = 𝒙𝟓
𝒂𝒎 𝒙𝟖
= 𝒂𝒎−𝒏 = 𝒙𝟖−𝟑 = 𝒙𝟓
𝒂𝒏 𝒙𝟑

(𝒂𝒎 )𝒏 = 𝒂𝒎∙𝒏 (𝒚𝟔 )𝟐 = 𝒚𝟏𝟐

(𝒂𝒃)𝒎 = 𝒂𝒎 ∙ 𝒂𝒎 (𝟐𝒙)𝟒 = 𝟐𝟒 ∙ 𝒙𝟒 = 𝟏𝟔𝒙𝟒

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 𝒂 𝒎 𝒂𝒎 𝟐 𝟒 𝟐𝟒 𝟏𝟔
( ) = 𝒎 ( ) = 𝟒= 𝟒
𝒃 𝒃 𝒙 𝒙 𝒙
𝒎 𝒏 𝟓 𝟑
𝒂 𝒏 = √𝒂𝒎 (𝟒𝒙)𝟑 = √(𝟒𝒙)𝟓
𝟏 𝟏
𝒂−𝒎 = 𝒙−𝟓 =
𝒂𝒎 𝒙𝟓
𝒂𝟎 = 𝟏 (𝒂 ≠ 𝟎) (𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐)𝟎 = 𝟏

4. Polynomials are sums and differences of polynomial "terms".

For an expression to be a polynomial term, it must contain no square roots of

variables, no fractional or negative powers on the variables, and no variables in
the denominators of any fractions. See the example below.

On the example above, notice each exponent of the three terms. The first term has

an exponent of 2; the second term has an “understood” exponent of 1 (as in x1,

which is normally written as x); the last term is a constant term hence there is no
exponent.

When a polynomial is written in a descending order, the first term in the polynomial
which is also the term with the biggest exponent is called the "leading" term.

4.1. Types of Polynomials

4.1.1. Monomial - a polynomial with one term.

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 4.1.2. Binomial - a polynomial with two terms.

4.1.3. Trinomial - a polynomial with three terms.

4.1.4. Multinomial or Polynomial - a polynomial with four (4) or

more terms.

4.2. Degrees of a Term

To find the degree of the term, take the sum of the exponents on the
variables contained in the term.

Example: 𝟓𝒂𝟒 𝒃𝟑 𝒄 (remember that c can be written as c1) therefore

the degree is 8.

4.3. Degree of a Polynomial

The degree of the polynomial can be determined by the degree of the

leading term.

Here are examples of polynomials and their degrees.

𝟔𝒙𝟏𝟐 − 𝟐𝒙𝟔 + 𝒙𝟓 − 𝟏𝟓𝟎𝒙 + 𝟏 degree: 12

𝒙𝟒 − 𝒙𝟑 + 𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙 + 𝟏 degree: 4

𝒙𝟐 𝒚 − 𝟑𝒙𝟔 𝒚𝟖 + 𝟏𝟎𝒙𝟓 − 𝟕𝒚 + 𝟏 degree: 14

𝟑𝒙𝟏𝟎 − 𝟏𝟎𝒚𝟒 + 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟏𝟏𝒚 degree: 10

𝟑𝟐𝒙𝟐𝟑 degree: 23

𝟗𝒙 − 𝟕 degree: 1

−𝟗 degree: 0

4.4. Evaluating Polynomials

Evaluating a polynomial for a particular value involves replacing the value

for the variable(s) involved.

Example:

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1. Find the value of 𝟐𝒙𝟑 − 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟒 when 𝒙 = −𝟐.

To evaluate, plug in the value of 𝒙 = −𝟐, to the given polynomial

expression. See the Solution below.

𝟐𝒙𝟑 − 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟒 = 𝟐(−𝟐)𝟑 − 𝟑(−𝟐) + 𝟒

= 𝟐(−𝟖) + 𝟔 + 𝟒

= −𝟔 → 𝑨𝒏𝒔.

2. Evaluate 𝒙𝟒 − 𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟓𝒙 − 𝟏 when 𝒙 = 𝟐.

In the expression, simply replace the variable with the given

value of x.

Solution.

𝒙𝟒 − 𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟓𝒙 − 𝟏 = (𝟐)𝟒 − 𝟐(𝟐)𝟐 + 𝟓(𝟐) − 𝟏

= 𝟏𝟔 − 𝟐(𝟒) + 𝟏𝟎 − 𝟏

= 𝟏𝟔 − 𝟖 + 𝟏𝟎 − 𝟏

= 𝟏𝟕 → 𝑨𝒏𝒔.

3. Evaluate the following polynomial at 𝒙 = 𝟏 and 𝒚 = 𝟐

𝟒𝒂𝟑 𝒃 + 𝟔𝒂𝟐 𝒃 − 𝟒𝒂𝒃 + 𝟑𝒃𝟐

The given polynomial involves two variables a and b, in order to

evaluate the polynomial for given values of a and b, we simply
replace a with 1 and b with 2.

Solution.

𝟒𝒂𝟑 𝒃 + 𝟔𝒂𝟐 𝒃 − 𝟒𝒂𝒃 + 𝟑𝒃𝟐 = 𝟒(𝟏)𝟑 (𝟐) + 𝟔(𝟏)𝟐 (𝟐) −

𝟒(𝟏)(𝟐) + 𝟑(𝟐)𝟐

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 = 𝟒(𝟏)(𝟐) + 𝟔(𝟏)(𝟐) − 𝟒(𝟏)(𝟐)
+ 𝟑(𝟒)

= 𝟖 + 𝟏𝟐 − 𝟖 + 𝟏𝟐

= 𝟐𝟒 → 𝑨𝒏𝒔.

4. Evaluate 𝟐𝒂𝒃 − 𝟒𝒄 for 𝒂 = 𝟐, 𝒃 = −𝟏 and 𝒄 = 𝟑.

Solution.
Substitute the values of a, b, c
𝟐𝒂𝒃 − 𝟒𝒄 = 𝟐(𝟐)(−𝟏) − 𝟒(𝟑) Apply rules on signed
numbers
= −𝟒 − 𝟏𝟐

= −𝟏𝟔 → 𝑨𝒏𝒔.

𝟐
5. Evaluate 𝟑 𝒂𝒃𝒄𝟐 if 𝒂 = 𝟔, 𝒃 = −𝟐 and 𝒄 = 𝟑.

Solution.

𝟐 𝟐 Substitute the values of a, b, c

𝒂𝒃𝒄𝟐 = (𝟔)(−𝟐)(𝟑)𝟐
𝟑 𝟑

= −𝟐𝟒(𝟑)

= −𝟕𝟐 → 𝑨𝒏𝒔.

6. Evaluate 𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 3 − 𝑦 4 + 2𝑥𝑦 for 𝒙 = −𝟑, 𝒚 = 𝟐.

Solution.

To Evaluate 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟔𝒙𝟑 − 𝒚𝟒 + 𝟐𝒙𝒚, we substitute

−𝟑 to 𝒙 and 𝟐 to 𝒚. Hence, we have

𝒙𝟐 + 𝟔𝒙𝟑 − 𝒚𝟒 + 𝟐𝒙𝒚 = (−𝟑)𝟐 + 𝟔(−𝟑)𝟑 − (𝟐)𝟒 + 𝟐(−𝟑)(𝟐)

= 𝟗 + 𝟔(−𝟐𝟕) − (𝟏𝟔) + (−𝟏𝟐)

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 = −𝟏𝟖𝟏 → 𝑨𝒏𝒔.

𝟒 𝟐𝒙𝒚𝟑
7. Evaluate 𝟑 𝒘𝒙 − 𝒘𝟑 𝒙 − 𝟔𝒙𝟐 𝒚 + for 𝒘 = −𝟏, 𝒙 = 𝟐 and 𝒚 =
𝟑
𝟑.

Solution.

𝟒 𝟐𝒙𝒚𝟑
𝒘𝒙 − 𝒘𝟑 𝒙 − 𝟔𝒙𝟐 𝒚 +
𝟑 𝟑
𝟒 𝟑( ) 𝟐( )
𝟐(𝟐)(𝟑)𝟑
( )( ) ( )
= −𝟏 𝟐 − −𝟏 𝟐 − 𝟔 𝟐 𝟑 + ( )
𝟑 𝟑

𝟒 𝟐(𝟐)(𝟐𝟕)
= (−𝟐) − (−𝟏)(𝟐) − 𝟔(𝟒)(𝟑) +
𝟑 𝟑

𝟖
= − − (−𝟐) − 𝟕𝟐 + 𝟑𝟔
𝟑

𝟖
= − + 𝟐 − 𝟕𝟐 + 𝟑𝟔
𝟑

𝟏𝟏𝟎
=− → 𝑨𝒏𝒔.
𝟑

4.5 Combining “like” terms

This is the most common thing to do with polynomials. This process involves
adding terms that have exactly same variables. In combining like terms only the
numeral part of the term gets combined and the variable portion will determine if
the terms are indeed combinable terms. Take note that the same exact term
means the same variable(s), raised to the same power(s).

Now that we know how to identify like “terms” we will now simplify
polynomials expressions.

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Example:

1. Simplify: 𝟕𝒕 + 𝟑 − 𝟒𝒕 + 𝟐

Solution.

= 𝟕𝒕 − 𝟒𝒕 + 𝟑 + 𝟐

= (𝟕 − 𝟒)𝒕 + (𝟑 + 𝟐)

= 𝟑𝒕 + 𝟓 → 𝑨𝒏𝒔.

2. Simplify: 𝟏𝟓𝒓 − 𝟏𝟎 − (−𝟕𝒓) + 𝟓𝒓 + 𝟑

Solution.

= 𝟏𝟓𝒓 − 𝟏𝟎 − (−𝟕𝒓) + 𝟓𝒓 + 𝟑

= 𝟏𝟓𝒓 − 𝟏𝟎 + 𝟕𝒓 + 𝟓𝒓 + 𝟑

= (𝟏𝟓 + 𝟕 + 𝟓)𝒓 + (−𝟏𝟎 + 𝟑)

= 𝟐𝟕𝒓 − 𝟕 → 𝑨𝒏𝒔.

3. Simplify: 𝟒𝒙𝟑 + 𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟓 − 𝟐𝒙𝟑 + 𝟔 + 𝟓𝒙𝟐

Solution.

= 𝟒𝒙𝟑 + 𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟓 − 𝟐𝒙𝟑 + 𝟔 + 𝟓𝒙𝟐

= 𝟒𝒙𝟑 − 𝟐𝒙𝟑 + 𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟓𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟓 + 𝟔

= (𝟒 − 𝟐)𝒙𝟑 + (𝟑 + 𝟓)𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 + (𝟓 + 𝟔)

= 𝟐𝒙𝟑 + 𝟖𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏𝟏 → 𝑨𝒏𝒔.

4. Simplify: 𝟔𝒙 − 𝟐𝒚 + 𝟓𝒛 − 𝟖 + 𝟓𝒙 − 𝟑𝒚 − 𝟒𝒛 + 𝟏𝟏

Solution.

= 𝟔𝒙 − 𝟐𝒚 + 𝟓𝒛 − 𝟖 + 𝟓𝒙 − 𝟑𝒚 − 𝟒𝒛 + 𝟏𝟏

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 = 𝟔𝒙 + 𝟓𝒙 − 𝟐𝒚 − 𝟑𝒚 + 𝟓𝒛 − 𝟒𝒛 − 𝟖 + 𝟏𝟏

= (𝟔 + 𝟓)𝒙 + (−𝟐 − 𝟑)𝒚 + (𝟓 − 𝟒)𝒛 + (−𝟖 + 𝟏𝟏)

= 𝟏𝟏𝒙 + (−𝟓)𝒚 + (𝟏)𝒛 + 𝟑

= 𝟏𝟏𝒙 − 𝟓𝒚 + 𝒛 + 𝟑 → 𝑨𝒏𝒔.

5. Simplify: 𝒙𝟐 𝒚 + 𝒙𝒚 − 𝒚 + 𝟏𝟎𝒙𝟐 𝒚 − 𝟐𝒚 + 𝒙𝒚

Solution.

= 𝒙𝟐 𝒚 + 𝒙𝒚 − 𝒚 + 𝟏𝟎𝒙𝟐 𝒚 − 𝟐𝒚 + 𝒙𝒚

= 𝒙𝟐 𝒚 + 𝟏𝟎𝒙𝟐 𝒚 + 𝒙𝒚 + 𝒙𝒚 − 𝒚 − 𝟐𝒚

= (𝟏 + 𝟏𝟎)𝒙𝟐 𝒚 + (𝟏 + 𝟏)𝒙𝒚 + (−𝟏 − 𝟐)𝒚

= 𝟏𝟏𝒙𝟐 𝒚 + 𝟐𝒙𝒚 − 𝟑𝒚 → 𝑨𝒏𝒔.

Self-Help: You can also refer to the sources below to help you further
understand the lesson:

Exconde, M. R. C., et al. (2011). College Algebra. Philippines: C and E Publishing, Inc.
Catan, C. B., et al. (2012). Workbook in College Algebra. Philippines: C and E Publishing, Inc
C. Kauffman, JE. (2011). Intermediate Algebra. (9th Edition). Belmont, California: Brooks/Cole
Cengage Learning

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