7-6 Adding and Subtracting Polynomials

Adding Polynomials
Mr. Peter Richard
went to Poly- Nomial’s house to visit
her Ma-Nomial who had a son,
Bi-Nomial. Bi-Nomial had a son called
Tri-Nomial, but don’t ask me how this
happened. Mr. Peter Richard obtained
very valuable information about how the
Nomials function. He passes this secret
knowledge unto you free of charge.
Holt Algebra 1
 7-6 Adding and Subtracting Polynomials

Just as you can perform operations on

numbers, you can perform operations on
polynomials. To add or subtract
polynomials, combine like terms.

Remember!
Like terms are constants or terms with the same
variable(s) raised to the same power(s).

Holt Algebra 1
 7-6 Adding and Subtracting Polynomials
Example 1: Adding and Subtracting Monomials

Add

A. 12p3 + 11p2 + 8p3

12p3 + 11p2 + 8p3 Identify like terms.
12p3 + 8p3 + 11p2 Rearrange terms so that like
terms are together.
20p3 + 11p2 Combine like terms.
B. 5x2 – 6 – 3x + 8
5x2 – 6 – 3x + 8 Identify like terms.
Rearrange terms so that like
5x2 – 3x + 8 – 6
terms are together.
5x2 – 3x + 2 Combine like terms.
Holt Algebra 1
 7-6 Adding and Subtracting Polynomials
Example 1: Adding and Subtracting Monomials

Add

C. t2 + 2s2 – 4t2 – s2
t2 + 2s2 – 4t2 – s2 Identify like terms.
t2 – 4t2 + 2s2 – s2 Rearrange terms so that
like terms are together.
–3t2 + s2 Combine like terms.
D. 10m2n + 4m2n – 8m2n
10m2n + 4m2n – 8m2n Identify like terms.
6m2n Combine like terms.

Holt Algebra 1
 7-6 Adding and Subtracting Polynomials
Check It Out! Example 1

Add

a. 2s2 + 3s2 + s
2s2 + 3s2 + s Identify like terms.
5s2 + s Combine like terms.
b. 4z4 – 8 + 16z4 + 2
4z4 – 8 + 16z4 + 2 Identify like terms.
4z4 + 16z4 – 8 + 2 Rearrange terms so that
like terms are together.
20z4 – 6 Combine like terms.

Holt Algebra 1
 7-6 Adding and Subtracting Polynomials
Check It Out! Example 1

Add

c. 2x8 + 7y8 – x8 – y8
Identify like terms.
2x + 7y – x – y
8 8 8 8
Rearrange terms so that
2x8 – x8 + 7y8 – y8 like terms are together.
x8 + 6y8 Combine like terms.

d. 9b3c2 + 5b3c2 – 13b3c2

9b3c2 + 5b3c2 – 13b3c2 Identify like terms.
b3c2 Combine like terms.

Holt Algebra 1
 7-6 Adding and Subtracting Polynomials

Polynomials can be added in either vertical or

horizontal form. (5x2 + 4x + 1) + (2x2 + 5x + 2)
In vertical form, align In horizontal form, use the
the like terms and add: Associative and
Commutative Properties to
regroup and combine like
5x2 + 4x + 1
terms.
+ 2x2 + 5x + 2
7x2 + 9x + 3
(5x2 + 4x + 1) + (2x2 + 5x + 2)
= (5x2 + 2x2) + (4x + 5x) + (1 + 2)
= 7x2 + 9x + 3

Holt Algebra 1
 7-6 Adding and Subtracting Polynomials
Example 2: Adding Polynomials
Add.
A. (4m2 + 5) + (m2 – m + 6)
(4m2 + 5) + (m2 – m + 6) Identify like terms.
(4m2 + m2) + (–m) +(5 + 6) Group like terms
together.
5m2 – m + 11 Combine like terms.
B. (10xy + x) + (–3xy + y)
(10xy + x) + (–3xy + y) Identify like terms.
(10xy – 3xy) + x + y Group like terms
together.
7xy + x + y Combine like terms.
Holt Algebra 1
 7-6 Adding and Subtracting Polynomials
Example 2C: Adding Polynomials
Add.
(6x2 – 4y) + (3x2 + 3y – 8x2 – 2y)

(6x2 – 4y) + (3x2 + 3y – 8x2 – 2y) Identify like terms.

Group like terms together

(6x2 + 3x2 – 8x2) + (3y – 4y – 2y)
within each polynomial.

6x2 – 4y Use the vertical method.

+ –5x2 + y Combine like terms.
x2 – 3y Simplify.

Holt Algebra 1
 7-6 Adding and Subtracting Polynomials
Example 2D: Adding Polynomials
Add.

Identify like terms.

Group like terms

together.
Combine like terms.

Holt Algebra 1
 7-6 Adding and Subtracting Polynomials
Check It Out! Example 2

Add (5a3 + 3a2 – 6a + 12a2) + (7a3 – 10a).

(5a3 + 3a2 – 6a + 12a2) + (7a3 – 10a) Identify like terms.

(5a3 + 7a3) + (3a2 + 12a2) + (–10a – 6a) Group like terms

together.
12a3 + 15a2 – 16a Combine like terms

Holt Algebra 1
 7-6 Adding and Subtracting Polynomials

Time to Polynomialize!

Quiz: Page 497/498 # 22, 24, 26, 38, 46

Homework: # 21, 23, 27, 35, 47

Holt Algebra 1