Algebra I: Operations with Polynomials (Addition, Subtraction,

Multiplication, and Division)

ProcrastiNote: A School Simplified Organization

Last Updated: January 30, 2022

Contents

1 Introduction 2

2 Vocabulary 2

3 Addition 3

3.1 Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

4 Subtraction 4

4.1 Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

5 Multiplication 5

5.1 Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

6 Division 7

6.1 Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

A Credits 10

A.1 Contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

A.2 External Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

A.3 Image Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

B Extra Resources 10
Algebra I Operations(Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division)

1 Introduction

Objective: to learn how to perform any operation with algebraic expressions, monomials, binomials, trinomials
ect.
Algebraic Expressions

Algebraic Expressions:
5x − 2y + 1
z+x
2x
2x2 − x4 + 144 − 4x2

2 Vocabulary

• Algebraic Expression: also known as literal expressions. A symbol or group of symbols made of numbers,
letters,grouping symbols, placeholders, and operations. Algebraic expressions do not contain equal signs.

• Coefficients: a group of symbols who with another group of symbols, make a complete term.

• Polynomial: an algebraic expression with only real number coefficients, whole number exponents for place-
holders, and with placeholders only able to be multiplied and added.

• Real Numbers: All numbers. Natural numbers, whole numbers, integers, rational numbers, and irrational
numbers (positive numbers, positive numbers including zero, positive and negative numbers including
zero, positive and negative numbers including decimals).

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Algebra I Operations(Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division)

3 Addition

Adding Polynomials

Polynomial :an algebraic expression with only real number coefficients, whole number exponents for
placeholders, and with placeholders only able to be multiplied and added.
3x + x
18x + 5x + x
Characteristics of polynomials that can be added to each other:

1. They have the same variables.

2. They have the same exponents.

3.1 Examples

Example 1: 3x + 4x

1. Begin by factoring x out of the expression. (remember that a single x means 1x)

(3 + 1)x

2. Add the numbers.

(4)x

3. Factor x back into the expression.

4x

The sum is: 4x

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Algebra I Operations(Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division)

Example 2: 2x + z + 8y

This expression can not be operated on because it contains three different variables.

Example 3: 1(7x3 − 7x + 1) + 1(5x + 2x + x3 )

1. Factor in the 1s remembering the rules for the signs.

7x3 − 7x + 1 + 5x + 2x + x3

2. Use the commutative property of addition to re-group the terms to collect.

7x3 + x3 − 7x + 2x + 5x + 1

3. Add.

10x3 − 5x + 1

Since each term in this expression has a different exponent from the others, we can not operate anymore.

Our answer is: 10x3 − 5x + 1

4 Subtraction
Subtracting Polynomials

Polynomial :an algebraic expression with only real number coefficients, whole number exponents for
placeholders, and with placeholders only able to be multiplied and added.
2x − x
x4 − x − 4x4
(2x2 − 7x + 6) − (x2 − 5x + 8)

4.1 Examples

Example 1: 3z − z

1. Factor the z out. (remember ”z” is the same as ”1z”

z(3 − 1)

2. Subtract.

z(2)

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Algebra I Operations(Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division)

3. Factor ”z” back into the expression.

The answer is: 2z

Example 2: (3x2 − y + z 3 ) − (3z 3 − 6y + x2 )

1. To remove the parentheses, factor the 1s into the expression. (Remember the rules pertaining to multiply-
ing with different signs.)

3x2 − y + z 3 − 3z 3 + 6y − x2

2. Regroup the terms that have the same variable and exponent.

3x2 − x2 − y + 6y + z 3 − 3z 3

3. Begin to perform any operations needed.

2x2 − y + 6y + z 3 − 3z 3

2x2 + 5y + z 3 − 3z 3

2x2 + 5y − 2z 3

The answer is: 2x2 + 5y − 2z 3

5 Multiplication

Multiplying Polynomials

Polynomial :an algebraic expression with only real number coefficients, whole number exponents for
placeholders, and with placeholders only able to be multiplied and added.
2x(x2 − 3x)
(x2 − 3x + 4)(2x + x − 2)

5.1 Examples

Example 1: 2x(x − 4 + x3 )

1. Multiply 2x into x, −4 and x3 (Factor).

2x2 − 8x + 2x4

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Algebra I Operations(Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division)

Since each of the polynomials have different variables, we can not operate any further.

The answer is:

2x2 − 8x + 2x4

Example 2: (2x − 3)(x − 14 + 3x2 − x2 )

1. Multiply 2x into x, −14, 3x2 , and −x2 .

−3(2x2 − 28x + 6x3 − 2x3 )

2. Now multiply −3 into the polynomial.

−6x2 + 84x − 18x3 + 6x3

3. Now collect like terms (terms with the same exponent in this case).

The answer is: −6x2 + 84x − 12x3

Example 3: (−2a3 b6 c2 )(5a2 b4 )

1. The only operation involved in this expression is multiplication so we can use the commutative property of
multiplication to rearrange the factors.

−2 · a3 · b6 · c2 · 5 · a2 · b4

2. Collect like terms.

−2 · 5 · a3 · a2 · b6 · b4 · c2

3. Begin by multiplying −2 and 5.

−10 · a3 · a2 · b6 · b4 · c2

4. Now multiply a3 and a2 (remember that when multiplying factors with exponents you add the exponents.

−10 · a5 · b6 · b4 · c2

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Algebra I Operations(Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division)

5. Multiply b6 and b4 .

−10 · a5 · b10 · c2

Since there is only one c term we do not have to operate on it.

6. Remove the multiplication signs and the answer is:

−10a5 b10 c2

6 Division
Dividing Polynomials

Polynomial :an algebraic expression with only real number coefficients, whole number exponents for
placeholders, and with placeholders only able to be multiplied and added.

27w3 x2 y
−36w2 x5 y 2

24ab3 + 8a2 b − 2ab

−2ab

(2x3 − 5x2 − 8x + 15) ÷ (x − 3)

6.1 Examples
27w3 x2 y 4
Example 1: −36w2 x5 y 4

1. Group all like terms together in fraction form.

27 w3 x2 y 4
· · ·
−36 w2 x5 y 4

2. Simplify 27 divided by -36.

3 w 3 x2 y 4
· · ·
−4 w2 x5 y 4

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Algebra I Operations(Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division)

3. Simplify w3 divided by w2 . Do this by factoring out and making ones. Makes ones by finding pairs of the
terms in the numerator and denominator.
// · w
w // · w
// · w
w //

3 x2 y 4
·w· 5 · 4
−4 x y

4. Do the same thing with the rest of the remaining fractions.

x·x
x·x·x·x·x

x/ · x/
x/ · x/ · x · x · x

1
x3
y4
5. Make ones out of y4 .
y·y·y·y
y·y·y·y

y/ · y/ · y/ · y/
y/ · y/ · y/ · y/

6. Now that we have done all the operations we just have to multiply

3 1
·w· 3 ·1
−4 x

The answer is: 3w

−4x3

18a3 b−36a4 +9a3

Example 2: 9a2

1. Begin by factoring 9a2 out of the expression.

9a2 (2ab − 4a2 + a)

9a2

2. Cancel 9a2 out.

////2 (2ab − 4a2 + a)
9a
////2
9a

3. Now we are left with 2ab − 4a2 + a

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Algebra I Operations(Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division)

4. Since we cant perform any more operations because of the different variables our answer is: 2ab − 4a2 + a

Example 3: (m2 − 14m + 24) ÷ (m − 2)

1. Begin by rewriting this expression.

m2 − 14m + 24
m−2

2. Write −14m as a difference.

m2 − 2m − 12m + 24
m−2

3. Factor m out of m2 − 2m.

m(m − 2) − 12m + 24
m−2

4. Factor −12 out of −12m + 24.

m(m − 2) − 12(m − 2)
m−2

5. Factor m − 2 from the expression. That leaves:

(m − 2)(m − 12)
m−2

6. reduce the fraction by cancelling m − 2 out. Now we are left with:

m − 12

The answer is: m-12

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Algebra I Operations(Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division)

Appendices

A Credits

A.1 Contributions

• Drafted by P.N. Addmen

• Contributions by:

– ProcrastiNote. Team

– Connnor Tributor

– Ashlee-Marie Joseph

A.2 External Sources

Google

A.3 Image Credits

• Clock: Veronica Cruz

B Extra Resources

• All resources mentioned retain the same licensing as the original creators intended. The ProcrastiNote
Team has checked every single one of these to make sure that our usage of their materials remains within
the legal realm. If you are the owner of these materials and you believe there is a mistake in our citations,
please contact us at official.procrastinote@gmail.com. Thanks!

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