POST CLASS NOTES

Polynomials
 Topics

1. Polynomial and Terms Related to it

2. Special Types of Polynomials

3. Geometrical Meaning of Zeroes of a Polynomial

4. Relationship between Zeroes and Coefficients

of a Polynomial

5. Division Algorithm for Polynomials

𝑝𝑝 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑥𝑥2 − 1
 Polynomials

Polynomials

“ Poly“means many “nomials“means terms

So, polynomials means many terms

Definition of a Polynomial
An algebraic expression in which the variable(s) is/are raised to non-negative
integral exponents is called a polynomial.

Standard Form of a Polynomial in 𝑥𝑥 of Degree 𝑛𝑛

An algebraic expression of the form
𝐩𝐩 𝒙𝒙 = 𝒂𝒂𝒏𝒏 𝒙𝒙𝒏𝒏 + 𝒂𝒂𝐧𝐧−𝟏𝟏 𝒙𝒙𝐧𝐧−𝟏𝟏 + ⋯ + 𝒂𝒂𝟏𝟏 𝒙𝒙 + 𝒂𝒂𝟎𝟎 ,
where 𝒂𝒂𝟎𝟎 , 𝒂𝒂𝟏𝟏 , 𝒂𝒂𝟐𝟐 , … , 𝒂𝒂𝒏𝒏 are real numbers and 𝒂𝒂𝒏𝒏 ≠ 𝟎𝟎 ,
is the standard form of a polynomial in 𝑥𝑥 of degree 𝑛𝑛.
 Terms Related to Polynomials
The Degree of a Polynomial 𝑝𝑝 𝑥𝑥 is the highest exponent to
which 𝑥𝑥 is raised.

The Value of a Polynomial 𝑝𝑝(𝑥𝑥) at x = k is obtained by

replacing x = k in the polynomial expression.

A real number ′𝑎𝑎𝑎 is a Zero of a Polynomial 𝑝𝑝(𝑥𝑥) if

𝑝𝑝(𝑎𝑎) = 0.

Value of 𝑝𝑝(𝑥𝑥) at 𝒙𝒙 = 𝟏𝟏 is
Degree = 2. 𝑝𝑝 1 = 4 1 2 − 1 = 3.

𝒑𝒑 𝒙𝒙 = 𝟒𝟒𝟒𝟒𝟐𝟐 − 𝟏𝟏
𝟏𝟏
Zeroes of 𝑝𝑝(𝑥𝑥) are ± 𝟐𝟐 , since
1 1
𝑝𝑝 = 𝑝𝑝 − = 0.
2 2
Special Types of Polynomials
Based on Based on
Number of Terms Degree

1 term → Monomial Degree = 1 → Linear

Ex: 𝑥𝑥, −5𝑦𝑦 Ex: 2𝑦𝑦 − 3

2 terms → Binomial Degree = 2 → Quadratic

Ex: 2𝑥𝑥 −5, 6𝑦𝑦 + 8 Ex: 4𝑥𝑥2 + 5𝑥𝑥 − 2

3 terms → Trinomial Degree = 3 → Cubic

Ex: 𝑥𝑥 2 − 3𝑥𝑥 + 2 Ex: 8𝑥𝑥3 − 5
 Geometrical Meaning of Zeroes
of a Polynomial

A zero of a polynomial 𝑝𝑝(𝑥𝑥) represents the x-coordinate of the point where

the graph of 𝑝𝑝(𝑥𝑥) intersects the x-axis.

1 Zero
X

2 Zeroes
X

3 Zeroes X
Relationship between Zeroes and
Coefficients of a Polynomial
Quadratic Polynomial

General form: 𝑝𝑝(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎2 + 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏 + 𝑐𝑐

−𝒃𝒃
Sum of zeroes = 𝜶𝜶 + 𝜷𝜷 =
𝒂𝒂
𝒄𝒄
Product of zeroes = 𝜶𝜶𝜶𝜶 =
𝒂𝒂

Cubic Polynomial

General form: 𝑝𝑝(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎3 + 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏2 + 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 + 𝑑𝑑

−𝒃𝒃
Sum of zeroes = 𝜶𝜶 + 𝜷𝜷 + 𝜸𝜸 =
𝒂𝒂
Sum of product of zeroes 𝒄𝒄
taken two at a time = 𝜶𝜶𝜶𝜶 + 𝜷𝜷𝜷𝜷 + 𝜸𝜸𝜸𝜸 =
𝒂𝒂
−𝒅𝒅
Product of zeroes = 𝜶𝜶𝜶𝜶𝜶𝜶 =
𝒂𝒂
Division Algorithm for Polynomials

Quotient 𝒒𝒒(𝒙𝒙)
Divisor Dividend 𝒈𝒈(𝒙𝒙) 𝒑𝒑(𝒙𝒙)
. .
. .
. .

Remainder 𝒓𝒓(𝒙𝒙)

Dividend = Quotient × Divisor + Remainder

𝒑𝒑(𝒙𝒙) = 𝒒𝒒(𝒙𝒙) × 𝒈𝒈(𝒙𝒙) + 𝒓𝒓(𝒙𝒙)

 Mind Map

Degree of a Polynomial Value of a Polynomial

at a Point

Polynomials
Special Types of Division Algorithm for
Polynomials Polynomials

Zeroes of a Polynomial

Relationship between Zeroes

Geometrical Meaning of the
and Coefficients of a
Zeroes of a Polynomial
Polynomial