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Chapter 5 SUMMARY

Section 5.1 Addition and Subtraction of Polynomials

and Polynomial Functions
Key Concepts Examples
A polynomial in x is defined by a finite sum of terms of Example 1
the form axn, where a is a real number and n is a whole
7y4  2y2  3y  8
number.
is a polynomial with leading coefficient 7 and degree 4.
• a is the coefficient of the term.
• n is the degree of the term.
Example 2
The degree of a polynomial is the largest degree of
f1x2  4x3  6x  11
its terms.
The term of a polynomial with the largest degree is f is a polynomial function with leading term 4x3 and
the leading term. Its coefficient is the leading coefficient. leading coefficient 4. The degree of f is 3.
A one-term polynomial is a monomial.
A two-term polynomial is a binomial. Example 3
f 1x2  4x3  6x  11, find f 112.
A three-term polynomial is a trinomial.
For
f 112  4112 3  6112  11
 9

To add or subtract polynomials, add or subtract like Example 4

14x3y  3x2y2 2  17x3y  5x2y2 2
terms.
 4x3y  3x2y2  7x3y  5x2y2
 11x3y  8x2y2

Section 5.2 Multiplication of Polynomials

Key Concepts Examples
To multiply polynomials, multiply each term in Example 1
1x  2213x2  4x  112
the first polynomial by each term in the second
polynomial.
 3x3  4x2  11x  6x2  8x  22
 3x3  10x2  19x  22
Special Products
1. Multiplication of conjugates Example 2
1x  y21x  y2  x2  y2 13x  5213x  52
The product is called a difference of squares.  13x2 2  152 2
 9x2  25

2. Square of a binomial Example 3

1x  y2  x  2xy  y
2 2 2
14y  32 2
1x  y2 2  x2  2xy  y2  14y2 2  12214y2132  132 2
 16y2  24y  9
The product is called a perfect square trinomial.
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392 Chapter 5 Polynomials

Section 5.3 Division of Polynomials

Key Concepts Examples
Division of polynomials: Example 1
1. For division by a monomial, use the properties 12a2  6a  9
ab a b ab a b 3a
  and  
c c c c c c 12a2 6a 9
  
for c  0. 3a 3a 3a
3
 4a  2 
a

2. If the divisor has more than one term, use long Example 2
13x2  5x  12  1x  22
division.

3x  11
x  2  3x  5x  1
2

13x2  6x2
11x  1
111x  222
23
23
Answer: 3x  11 
x2

3. Synthetic division may be used to divide a Example 3

13x2  5x  12  1x  22
polynomial by a binomial in the form x  r,
where r is a constant.
2 3 5 1
6 22
3 11 23
23
Answer: 3x  11 
x2
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Section 5.4 Greatest Common Factor and

Factoring by Grouping
Key Concepts Examples
The greatest common factor (GCF) is the largest factor Example 1
3x2 1a  b2  6x1a  b2
common to all terms of a polynomial. To factor out the
GCF from a polynomial, use the distributive property.
A four-term polynomial may be factored by  3x1a  b2x  3x1a  b2122
grouping.
 3x1a  b21x  22
Steps to Factor by Grouping
Example 2
1. Identify and factor out the GCF from all four
terms. 60xa  30xb  80ya  40yb
 1036xa  3xb  8ya  4yb 4
2. Factor out the GCF from the first pair of terms.
Factor out the GCF from the second pair of
terms. (Sometimes it is necessary to factor out  1033x12a  b2  4y12a  b2 4
the opposite of the GCF.)
 1012a  b213x  4y2
3. If the two pairs of terms share a common
binomial factor, factor out the binomial factor.

Section 5.5 Factoring Trinomials

Key Concepts Examples
AC-Method Example 1
To factor trinomials of the form ax  bx  c:
2
10y2  35y  20  512y2  7y  42
1. Factor out the GCF. ac  122142  8
2. Find the product ac.
3. Find two integers whose product is ac and Find two integers whose product is 8 and whose
whose sum is b. (If no pair of numbers can be sum is 7. The numbers are 8 and 1 .
found, then the trinomial is prime.) 532y2  8y  1y  44
 532y1y  42  11 y  42 4
4. Rewrite the middle term bx as the sum of two
terms whose coefficients are the numbers found
in step 3.  51y  4212y  12
5. Factor the polynomial by grouping.
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394 Chapter 5 Polynomials

Trial-and-Error Method Example 2

To factor trinomials in the form ax  bx  c:
2
10y 2  35y  20  512y 2  7y  42
1. Factor out the GCF. The pairs of factors of 2 are 2  1.
2. List the pairs of factors of a and the pairs of The pairs of factors of 4 are
1  142
factors of c. Consider the reverse order in
1  4
2  122
either list.
2  2
4  112
3. Construct two binomials of the form
4  1
12y  221y  22  2y2  2y  4
Factors of a
No
1x 21x 2
12y  421y  12  2y  2y  4
2
No
Factors of c 12y  121y  42  2y2  7y  4 No
4. Test each combination of factors until the 12y  221y  22  2y  2y  4
2
No
product of the outer terms and the product
of inner terms add to the middle term. 12y  421y  12  2y2  2y  4 No
5. If no combination of factors works, the polyno- 12y  121y  42  2y  7y  4
2
Yes
mial is prime.
Therefore, 10y2  35y  20 factors as 512y  121y  42.

The factored form of a perfect square trinomial is the Example 3

square of a binomial:
9w2  30wz  25z2
a  2ab  b  1a  b2
 13w2 2  213w215z2  15z2 2
2 2 2

a  2ab  b  1a  b2
2 2 2

 13w  5z2 2

Section 5.6 Factoring Binomials

Key Concepts Examples
Factoring Binomials: Summary Example 1

Difference of squares: 25u2  9v4  15u  3v2 215u  3v2 2

a2  b2  1a  b21a  b2
Difference of cubes: Example 2
a  b  1a  b21a  ab  b 2
3 3 2 2
8c3  d6  12c  d2 214c2  2cd2  d4 2

Sum of cubes: Example 3

a3  b3  1a  b21a2  ab  b2 2 27w9  64x3
 13w3  4x219w6  12w3x  16x2 2
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Section 5.7 Additional Factoring Strategies

Key Concepts Examples
1. Factor out the GCF (Section 5.4). Example 1
2. Identify whether the polynomial has two terms,
9x2  4x  9x3
three terms, or more than three terms.
3. If the polynomial has more than three terms, try  x19x  4  9x2 2 Factor out the GCF.
factoring by grouping (Section 5.4).  x19x  9x  42
2
Descending order.
4. If the polynomial has three terms, check first
 x13x  4213x  12 Factor the trinomial.
for a perfect square trinomial. Otherwise, factor
by using the ac-method or trial-and-error method
Example 2
(Section 5.5).
5. If the polynomial has two terms, determine if it 4a2  12ab  9b2  c2
fits the pattern for a difference of squares,  4a2  12ab  9b2  c2 Group 3 by 1.
 12a  3b2  c
difference of cubes, or sum of cubes. Remember, 2 2
a sum of squares is not factorable over the real Perfect square
numbers (Section 5.6). trinomial.
6. Be sure to factor the polynomial completely.  12a  3b  c212a  3b  c2 Difference
7. Check by multiplying. of squares.

Section 5.8 Solving Equations by Using

the Zero Product Rule
Key Concepts Examples
An equation of the form ax  bx  c  0, where a  0,
2
Example 1
is a quadratic equation.
0  x12x  321x  42
The zero product rule states that if a  b  0 , then
a  0 or b  0 . The zero product rule can be used to x0 or 2x  3  0 or x40
solve a quadratic equation or higher-degree polynomial
3
equation that is factored and equal to zero. x or x  4
2

f1x2  ax2  bx  c 1a  02 defines a quadratic Example 2

function. The x-intercepts of a function defined by Find the x-intercepts.
y  f1x2 are determined by finding the real solutions to
the equation f1x2  0 . The y-intercept of a function f1x2  3x2  8x  5
y  f1x2 is at f(0). 0  3x2  8x  5
0  13x  521x  12
3x  5  0 or x10
5
x or x1
3
The x-intercepts are 1 53, 02 and (1, 0).

Find the y-intercept.

f1x2  3x2  8x  5
f102  3102 2  8102  5
f102  5
The y-intercept is 10, 52.