ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS Terms - The name given to a number, a

● When variables are used with variable, or a number and a variable

other numbers, parentheses, or combined by multiplication or division.

operations, they create an ● Terms are separated by the

algebraic expression. operators

Example: 2a + 3c - 5 Example: 5g + 6h - 8

● Algebra is the language of TRANSLATING VERBAL PHRASES INTO

Variables, such as a, x, y, m, a, ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS AND VICE

and any letter. VERSA

Variable - A variable is a letter or symbol ● The key to translating verbal

that represents an unknown value phrases is to know what the

Example: 5m + 4o + 8  English words mean

Constant - A number that cannot mathematically…

change its value, it does not change at ● It’s expected that you know the

all and in it remains constant. words that mean add, subtract,

Example: 5x - 6y + 8 multiply, and divide

Coefficients - The number multiplied by ● The starting point to translate

the variable in an algebraic expression.  verbal phrases is to identify the

Example: 9x + 5y - 9 variable first…

● Fractions could be coefficients ● Most often you will know what

too: ½m + ¾p - 7 the variable is by the phrase “a

● Variables without coefficients number”…

have an imaginary 1 coefficient!  ● When adding and subtracting it

Operators - These are the plus + and DOES matter in which order you

minus - of algebraic expressions.  place the numbers….

Example: 2b - c + 7 Addition/+

● plus
 ● add The quotient of a number and

● increased by two-tenths: x ÷ 2/10 

● sum Three more than ½ a number: 1/2 x + 3

● total  Nine more than a number: x + 9

● more than EVALUATING POWERS

● added to ● This multiplication can also be

Subtraction/- written as a power, using a base

● minus and an exponent. 

● subtract  

● decreased by

● difference

● less

● less than

● subtracted from

Multiplication/x

● times

● multiply Examples: 

● product of 4 • 4 • 4 • 4 = 4^4

● twice (times 2) Read 4^4  as “4 to the 4th power.”

Division /÷ a • a • a  = a^3

● divide Read a^3  as “a to the 3rd power” or “a

● quotient cubed”

Examples: (–6) • (–6) • (–6) = (-6)^3

Six less than twice a number x : 2x - 6 ● Remember to keep the – sign

Five times the sum of y and 4: 5(y + 4) inside the ( )!  If it is outside, your

Five squared minus a number: 5^2 - x answer will be negative even if

 you have an even number of – Examples:

signs.

Examples for Evaluating Powers:

3^5 = 3 • 3 • 3 • 3 • 3 = 243

-3^4= - (3 • 3 • 3 • 3)  = -81

7^3 = 7 • 7 • 7 = 343

EVALUATING ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

Evaluate - means to simplify, solve, or to

find the value of

Variable - a letter to represents an POLYNOMIALS

unknown value ● are algebraic expressions that

Substitution method - In Algebra, contain variables with positive

substitution means putting numbers in exponents.

place of variables. Examples:

Order of Operations: ● x/5 + 4y - 8

PEMDAS - Parentheses, Exponent, ● 6a^7 + 8b^4 - 16

Multiplication, Division, Addition, & ● 2b

Subtraction ● -16a

GEMDAS - Group, Exponent, ● 4xy^5

Multiplication, Division, Addition, & ● √9

Subtraction NOT a Polynomials

● In solving mathematical 1. The exponent is negative.

expressions, always start with Example: 2b^-7 + 6c - 10

PEMDAS, Parentheses, Exponents, 0. There is a variable denominator.

Multiplication or Division, Addition Example: 2/y + 5z - 11

or Subtraction 0. There is a fraction exponent.

Example: 4b + 3a^-½ - 19
0. There is an irrational number. Degree - means exponent of the

Example: √21 variable

Degree of Polynomial - the highest

Types of Polynomials degree of the variables of a term in a
Monomial - 1 term polynomial.
Examples: Example: 3x^5 + 4y^2 - 10
● 3y Degree of the Term - the sum of all the
● 4b exponents of the variable of all terms,
● 6x^5 DO NOT include the degree of the
● ½x constant.
Binomial - 2 terms Example: 3x + 6y - 9 Degree of
Examples: the Term = 2 (1+1) 
● b+4 ● There is an invisible 1 exponent
● -5ab + d

● Jklm - 6 Name of Polynomial by its degree

● 4cd - 10 ● Degree of 0 is called constant

Trinomials - 3 terms ● Degree of 1 is called linear

Examples: ● Degree of 2 is called quadratic

● 5x - 6y + 8 ● Degree of 3 is called cubic

● 4a^4 - 5d - 9 ● Degree of 4 is called quartic

● 5y + z - 12 ● Degree of 5 is called quintic

● 2h - j - 12 ● Degree above 5 -> nth degree

Multinomial - 4 or more terms

Example: STANDARD FORM

● 2x + 4y + z - 13 ● You can say that a polynomial is

Things to Remember in standard form if the exponents

(degree) of the terms are

arranged from highest to lowest.

 ● In case of equal degree among

the terms, the order will be

alphabetical.

ADDING POLYNOMIALS

In adding and subtracting polynomials, it is

important to determine like terms.

Like Terms

Two terms of Standard Form Like Terms are terms that have the same
variable and exponent.
Leading Term - the term that has the

highest exponent. Combining Terms

Example: To combine like terms, just add or subtract the

coefficient. The variables and exponents stay
the same. Do not also forget the sign of the
coefficient.

Adding Polynomials

To add polynomials, you have to combine like

Leading Coefficient - the numerical terms. Polynomials can be added in either
coefficient of the leading term. vertical or horizontal form.

Example:
 In vertical form, just align the like terms.

In horizontal form, use the Associative

and Commutative properties to regroup
and combine like terms.

SUBTRACTING POLYNOMIALS
LAW OF EXPONENTS
To subtract polynomials, remember that
#1: The Product Rule: If you are
subtracting is the same as adding the opposite.
multiplying Powers with the same base,
To find the opposite, you should write the
KEEP the BASE & ADD the EXPONENTS!
opposite of each polynomials, you must write
#2: The Quotient Rule: When dividing
the opposite of each term in the polynomial
Powers with the same base, KEEP the
BASE & SUBTRACT the EXPONENTS!
#3: Zero Exponent Rule: Any base
powered by zero exponent equals one.
#4: The Power Rule: If you are raising a
Power to an exponent, you multiply the
exponents!
#5: The Power of a Product: If the
product of the bases is powered by the
same exponent, then the result is a
multiplication of individual factors of
the product, each powered by the given
exponent.
#6: The Power of a Quotient: If the
quotient of the bases is powered by the
same exponent, then the result is both
numerator and denominator , each
powered by the given exponent.