Ch.

2 – POLYNOMIAL

Formulas

Sr. No Type of Numbers Explanation

1 Polynomial A polynomial p(x) in one variable x is an algebraic
expression in x of the form p(x) = anxn + an–1xn – 1
+ . . . + a2x2 + a1x + a0, where a0, a1, a2, . . ., an are
constants and an ≠ 0.
a0, a1, a2, . . ., an are respectively the coefficients of
x0, x, x2, . . ., xn
2 Degree of Polynomial The highest power of x in a polynomial is called
the degree of that polynomial. For example, n is
called the degree of the above polynomial p(x).
3 Linear Polynomial A polynomial of degree one is called a linear
polynomial.
4 Quadratic Polynomial A polynomial of degree two is called a quadratic
polynomial.
5 Zero of a Polynomial A real number k is called the zero of a polynomial
p(x) if p(k) = 0.
6 Zero of a Polynomial Geometrically the zeroes of a polynomial p(x) are
(Geometrically) precisely the x-coordinates of the points, where the
graph of y = p(x) intersects the x -axis
7 Relationship between Zeroes If α and β are zeroes of a quadratic polynomial p(x)
and Coefficients of a = ax2 + bx + c, a ≠ 0, then
Quadratic Polynomial −b −(Coefficient of x)
α+ β= =
a Coefficient of x2
c Coefficient of x
αβ = =
a coefficient of x2

8 Relationship between Zeroes If α, β, γ are the zeroes of the cubic polynomial

and Coefficients of a Cubic ax3 + bx2 + cx + d, then
Polynomial −b −(Coefficient of x2 )
α+ β + γ= =
a Coefficient of x3

c Coefficient of x
αβ + β γ + γα = =
a Coefficient of x3

−d −(Constant)
αβγ = =
a Coefficient of x3

9 The division algorithm
The division algorithm states that given any
polynomial p(x) and any non-zero
polynomial g(x), there are polynomials q(x) and
r(x) such that
p(x) = g(x) q(x) + r(x),
where r(x) = 0 or degree r(x) < degree g(x).
 Examples

Q Find the zeroes of the following quadratic polynomials and verify the relationship
Between the zeroes and the coefficients.
(i) x2 – 2x – 8

Q Divide the polynomial p(x) by the polynomial g(x) and find the quotient and
remainder in each of the following:
(i) p(x) = x3 – 3x2 + 5x – 3, g(x) = x2 – 2

Q Check whether the first polynomial is a factor of the second polynomial by dividing
The second polynomial by the first polynomial:
(i) t2 – 3, 2t4 + 3t3 – 2t2 – 9t – 12