Topic 7:

Polynomials
 Table of Contents
1. Introduction to Polynomials  
2. Adding & Subtracting Polynomials
3. Multiplying Polynomials
4. Special Products of Binomials
5. Factoring Polynomials
6. Factoring Polynomials, part 2
7. Factoring by Grouping
Introduction to
Polynomials
 Vocab
Monomial: a number, a variable, or a product of
numbers and variables with whole-number
exponents.

Degree of a monomial: is the sum of the

exponents of the variables. A constant has
degree 0.
 Vocab
Polynomial: an expression of more than two
algebraic terms.
Example: 3x4 + 5x2 – 7x + 1

Degree of a polynomial is the degree of the

term with the greatest power/exponent.

Example: The degree of 3x4 + 5x2 – 7x + 1 is 4.

 Degree of a Polynomial
Find the degree of each polynomial.

1. 11x7 + 3x3

2.
 Vocab
Standard form of a polynomial: Polynomial
written with the terms in order from greatest
degree to least degree.
Leading Coefficient: When written in standard
form, the coefficient of the first term is called
the leading coefficient.
Example: 3x4 + 5x2 – 7x + 1 and 3 is the leading
coefficient.
 Let’s Practice…
Write the polynomial in standard form. Then give the leading
coefficient.

3. 6x – 7x5 + 4x2 + 9

4. 16 – 4x2 + x5 + 9x3

5. 18y5 – 3y8 + 14y

Special Polynomial Names
By Degree

Degree Name
By # of Terms
0 Constant

1 Linear Terms Name

1 Monomial
2 Quadratic
2 Binomial
3 Cubic
3 Trinomial
4 Quartic
4 or more Polynomial
5 Quintic

6 or more 6th,7th,degree and so

on
 Review: Like Terms
You can add or subtract monomials by adding or
subtracting like terms.
Like terms The variables have the same powers.

4a3b2 + 3a2b3 – 2a3b2

Not like terms The variables have different powers.

 Identify Like Terms
Identify the like terms in each polynomial.
6. 5x3 + y2 + 2 – 6y2 + 4x3

Like terms: ______________________

7. 3a3b2 + 3a2b3 + 2a3b2 – a3b2

Like terms: _______________________

8.
Adding and
Subtracting
Polynomials
 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).
 Simplifying Polynomials
Combine like terms.
1. 12p3 + 11p2 + 8p3

2. 5x2 – 6 – 3x + 8
 Let’s Practice…
Combine like terms.
3. 2s2 + 3s2 + s – 3s2 – 5s

4. 4z4 – 8 + -2z2 +16z4 + 2 + 5z3 – 7

 2 Methods: Adding Polynomials
Polynomials can be added in either
vertical or horizontal form.

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
 Adding Polynomials
Add.
5. (4m2 + 5) + (m2 – m + 6)

6. (10xy + x) + (–3xy + y)
 Let’s Practice…
Add.

7.

8. (5a3 + 3a2 – 6a + 12a2) + (7a3 – 10a)

 Subtracting Polynomials
To subtract polynomials, remember that subtracting is
the same as adding the opposite (distributing the
negative).
To find the opposite of a polynomial, you must write
the opposite of each term in the polynomial:

–(2x3 – 3x + 7)= –2x3 + 3x – 7

 Subtracting Polynomials
9. (–10x2 – 3x + 7) – (x2 – 9)
 Subtracting Polynomials
10. (x3 + 4y) – (2x3)

11. (7m4 – 2m2) – (5m4 – 5m2 + 8)

 Let’s Practice…
12. (9q2 – 3q) – (q2 – 5)

13. (2x2 – 3x2 + 1) – (x2 + x + 1)

14.
15. The revenue made by Ford Motor Company from
the sale of y cars is given by 2y2 + 8y. The cost to
produce y cars is given by the polynomial y2 + 8y
-1200. Write a polynomial expression for the profit
from making and selling y cars.
16.
17.
Multiplying
Polynomials
F.O.I.L
 Multiplying Polynomials
Each term in the first polynomial, must be
multiplied by each term in the second
polynomial.
 Method 1: Distribute
First
Outer
Inner
Last

• Multiply!!!
“F.O.I.L.”
 Method 2: Box
Multiply (3x + 4)(5x - 3)
1. Draw a box. 3x +4
2. Write a polynomial
on the top and side
of a box. 5x
3. Multiply.
4. Combine like terms. -3
Pick Your Method: (7p - 2)(3p - 4)
 Pick Your Method: (7p - 2)(3p - 4)

First terms: 21p2

7p -2
Outer terms: -28p
Inner terms: -6p
Last terms: +8
3p 21p2 -6p
Combine like terms.
21p2 – 34p + 8 -4 -28p +8
 Let’s Practice…
1. (7x – 10)(3x + 8)

2. (2x – 3)(4x - 8)

3. (5x - 10)(2x + 8)
Multiplying Terms with Exponents

• When FOILing, add the exponents and multiply

coefficients.
• Add the little numbers and multiply the big
numbers!!!
Example:
(3x2 + 10x)(5x3 – 7x2)
15x5 - 21x4 + 50x4 – 70x3
15x5 + 29x4 – 70x3
 Let’s Practice…
4. (7x2 – 10x)(3x3 + 8x2)

5. (2x4 – 3x2)(4x - 8)

6. (5x3 + 2x2)(8x - 7)
 Multiplying Larger Polynomials

Each term in the 1st polynomial must be

multiplied by each term in the 2nd.
Example:
(7x2 + 2x + 8)(4x3 – 9x2)
 Method 2:
Multiply: (2x - 5)(x2 - 5x + 4)
 Let’s Practice…
7. (5x2 + 7) (2x3 – 5x2 +9)
 Let’s Practice…
8. (10x4 – 5x2 + 8) (8x3 -3x -6)
11. Cameron is building a garden. He designs a
rectangular garden with a length of (x + 6) feet and
a width of (x +2) feet. When x = 5, what is the area
of the garden?
12. Sarah manages a manufacturing plant. From
1990 through 2005, the number of units produced
(in thousands) can be modeled by N(x) = 3x2 + 2x,
where x is the number of years since 1990. The
average cost per unit in dollars can be modeled by
C(x) = -x2 + x – 5, where x is the number of years
since 1990. Write a polynomial that can be used
to model Sarah’s total manufacturing cost for
those years.
 Special
Products of
Binomials
 Multiply:
1. (2x + 3)(2x + 3)

2. (3x – 4)(3x + 4)

3. (x + 5)(x + 5)
 Multiply:
4. (6x – 1)(6x – 1)

5. (3x + 2y)2
 Special Products of Binomials
Name Algebraically Words
Positive Perfect
Square
(a + b)2
Negative Perfect
Square
(a - b)2
Difference of 2
Squares
(a + b)(a – b)
6.
 Let’s Practice….
7. (x + 8)2

8. (4x + 6y)2

9. (-x + 5)2

10. (7x - 3)(7x + 3)

 Let’s Practice #2
11. (x - 3)2

12. (2x + 4y)2

13. (x + 5)(x – 5)

14. (2x + 4)2

15. A square swimming pool is surrounded by a cement
walkway with a uniform width. The swimming pool has a side
length of (x – 2) feet. The side length of the entire square
area including the pool and the walkway is (x + 1) feet. Write
an expression for the area of the walkway. Then find the area
of the cement walkway when x = 7 feet.
16
17.
18.
 Factoring
Polynomials
 Vocab: Factoring
Factoring is rewriting an expression as a
product of factors.
It is the reverse of multiplying polynomials
FOILing.
  x  bx  c
2

To determine the factors, ask yourself…

What two #’s add to

the middle number
AND multiply to the
last number?!?!
 Let’s Practice…
What adds (or subtracts)
to get 3 and multiplies to
x  3x  2
2
get 2?

What adds (or

subtracts) to get -7 and
x 2  7 x  10 multiplies to get 10?

What adds (or subtracts) to

get -7 and multiplies to get
x  7 x  44
2
-44?
 Let’s Practice…
Factor:
1. x2 + 5x + 6

2. x2 -7x + 10

3. x2 -11x +24
 Signs of Factors
x  bx  c
2

b c Factors
+ + +,+
+,- (The factor w/ the greater absolute
- - value is -)

+,- (The factor w/ the greater absolute

+ - value is +)

- + -, -
 Vocab: GCF
The greatest common factor (GCF) is a common
factor of the terms in the expression.

Example:
9 x 2  9 x  18

4 x 2  8 x  12
 Vocab: Prime
If a polynomials is “prime” it means there are no
factors.

Factor or identify as prime.

4. x2 + 7x + 9

5. 2x2 + 10x + 8

6. x2 + 9x + 10
 Let’s Practice….
Factor.
7. y2 -10y +16

8. r2 -11r +24
 Let’s Practice….
Factor.
9. n2 -15n +56

10. 2v2 + 10v -72

 Let’s Practice…
11. x2 + 12x + 36

12. x2 - 8x + 16
 Let’s Practice…
13. -2x2 +22x -36

14. 16- x2
 Factoring
Polynomials,
Part 2
 Expanded Form
Expanded Form

(2 x  1)(3 x  5)  6 x 2  10 x  3 x  5

 6 x  13 x  5
2

When factoring problems where a ≠ 1, we first

want to get the problem into expanded form
before we try to factor.
 Creating Expanded Form
Step 1: Multiply a·c
Step 2: To get to expanded form ask yourself
“What multiplies to get a·c, and
add/subtracts to get to b.”
Example:
1. Expand: 2x2 +9x +7
2. Expand: 3x2 + 2x – 8
 Method 1:
Step 3: Write your new factors in place of bx.

Step 4: Group the first two terms together and

the last two terms together.

Step 5: Factor each group

Step 6: Factor again to get the complete

factorization
 Method 1: 6x + 13 x +5 2

1) Multiply a·c (6·5=30)

2) To get to expanded form ask yourself “What
multiplies to get a·c, and add/subtracts to get to b.”
(10, 3)
3) Write your new factors in place of bx.
(6x2+10x+3x+5)
4) Group the first two terms together and the last two
terms together. [(6x2+10x)+(3x+5)]
5) Factor each group [2x(3x+5)+1(3x+5)]
6) Factor again to get the complete factorization
[(3x+5)(2x+1)]
 Method 2: 6x2 + 13 x +5
Original 1st Term Expanded Term 1
Step 3: Fill in box.

Step 4: Factor
horizontally and Expanded Term 2 Original Last Term

vertically.

Step 5: Terms outside

of box are the solution.
#1 Factor: 2x2 + 5x -12
Original 1st Term Expanded Term 1

Expanded Term 2 Original Last Term

#2 Factor: 3x2 + 7x +2
#3 Factor: 2x2 + 15x -8
#4 Factor: 16x2 + 28x +10
5
Factoring by
Grouping
 Factoring by Grouping
– Using the distributive property to factor polynomials with
four or more terms.
– Terms can be put into groups and then factored---- each
group will have a “like” factor used in regrouping.
 Factoring by Grouping
A polynomial can be factored by grouping if all of the
following conditions exist.
1. There are four or more terms.
2. Terms have common factors that can be grouped
together, and
3. There are two common factors that are identical.

Symbols: ax + bx + ay + by = (ax + bx) + (ay + by)

Group, factor = x(a + b) + y(a + b)

Regroup = (x + y)(a + b)
 Factor by Grouping
1. Factor each polynomial by grouping. Check your answer.

6h – 4h + 12h – 8
4 3
 Factor by Grouping
2. Factor each polynomial by grouping.

5y – 15y + y – 3y
4 3 2
 Let’s Practice…
3. Factor each polynomial by grouping.

6b + 8b + 9b + 12
3 2
 Let’s Practice…
4. Factor each polynomial by grouping.

4r + 24r + r + 6
3 2
 Factoring with Opposite Groups
5. 2x – 12x + 18 – 3x
3 2
 Let’s Practice…
Factor each polynomial. Check your answer.

6. 15x – 10x + 8x – 12
2 3
 Let’s Practice…
Factor each polynomial by grouping.
7. 2x3 + x2 – 6x – 3

8. 7p4 – 2p3 + 63p – 18

Factoring Procedure