Polynomials A polynomial of degree n is a function of the form p(w) = a9 tay2 + aga? +-+++an2", where d,..-,@n are real numbers (called coefficients) and n is a positive integer (called the degree of p(«)). Polynomials can be represented by the vector of their coefficients in a vector space,Linear operations Linear operations are defined on polynomials of the same (largest) degree, e.g. p(x) =a) + a2 4 + yx” q(x) = bo + bia +--+ +b,2" e Addition of p(x) and q(x) p(x) + q(x) := (ao + bo) e Scalar multiplication of p(x) by k € R: kp(a) := (kao) + (kay)a +++++ (kan )a”. Example p(w) =1+2?, q(x) = 3-22Theorem Let P,, be a set of all polynomials of degree n and smaller. Then, P,, is a vector space such that if p(x) € P,, then p(x) is uniquely represented by the basic functions {1,2,a?,...,2”}. Dimension of P,isn+1. Various basis in P,, are possible. On the other hand, spanning set of functions may not be linearly independent. Example Consider two subspaces of polynomials U =span{1+a?,a+2°,1—2?,2°} V =span{1,1+27,2—3x7}Theorem Let {po(z),p1(),.-;Pn(x)} be polynomials in P,, of degrees 0,1,...,2. Then, the set of polynomials {po(x), p1(2), «++; Pn(x)} is a basis in P,,. Example Let pi(x),p2(z),p3(x), p(x) be polynomials of degree at most. two. Show that at least one polynomial is linearly dependent of the others. Example Consider a subspace of all polynomials of degree n with a root at x = 2, such that U = {p(x) € Pr: p(2) = 0} Find the basis of vectors for U.