Class 7

Polynomials
Part 2
• What are like terms?
• How do we add polynomials?
 Like Terms
- What are like terms?
- How can we combine like terms?
 Term
• A term is part of an expression that is added or subtracted.
• Three parts
– Variable – Symbol or letter that represents one or more numbers.
– Exponent - The power to which a variable or number is raised
– Coefficient – The number in front of the variable.
– Constant – The term that has no variable.

• Example: How many terms are in the following expression?

3x2 + 4x +3

constants - numbers variables - letters

operations - addition, subtraction, multiplication and

division
 Terms
• Identify the coefficient, exponent and variable for the
following terms.
Coefficient Variable Exponent
– 7x3

– -8x2

– 2x

– -3x2

Jamboard – 7x
 Like Terms
• For terms to be “like terms” everything must
match except the coefficients.
• Which of the following are like terms?

13x2 + 2x3 – 10x2

 Like terms
• Like terms can be added or subtracted.

• 3x + 5x

• 8y2s – 3y2s

• What about m3-x3-7m3?

Adding Like Terms
 Initial illustration:
Model before combining
terms

Simplify Final illustration

 Like Terms
Like Terms refers to monomials that have the same
variable(s) but may have different coefficients. The
variables in the terms must have the same powers.

Which terms are like? 3a2b, 4ab2, 3ab, -5ab2

4ab2 and -5ab2 are like.

Even though the others have the same variables, the

exponents are not the same.
3a2b = 3aab, which is different from 4ab2 = 4abb.
 Like Terms
Constants are like terms.

Which terms are like? 2x, -3, 5b, 0

-3 and 0 are like.

Which terms are like? 3x, 2x2, 4, x

3x and x are like.

Which terms are like? 2wx, w, 3x, 4xw

2wx and 4xw are like.

Jamboard
Jamboard
Jamboard
Jamboard
Adding Polynomials
• How do we add polynomials?
– Using the vertical method
– Using the horizontal method
– Using algebra tiles.
Adding Polynomials
• How do we add polynomials?
– Using the vertical method
– Using the horizontal method
– Using algebra tiles.
 INTRODUCTION
 Algebra tiles can be used to model algebraic
expressions and operations with algebraic
expressions.
 There are three types of tiles:
1. Large square with x as its length and width.
2. Rectangle with x and 1 as its length and its width
3. Small square with 1 as its length and width.

x 1
1
x 1
x
 INTRODUCTION
 Each tile represents an area.
x

x Area of large square = x (x) = x2

1

x
Area of rectangle = 1 (x) = x
1
1
Area of small square = 1 (1) = 1
 INTRODUCTION
 Does an x-tile need to be any particular
length?
 Does its length matter?
 x-tile does not have to be a particular length
because it represents a variable. Its length does
not matter.
 ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS
 To model 2x2, you need 2 large squares

x2 x2
 AGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS
 To model x2 + 3x, you need 1 large square and
3 rectangles

x2 x x x
 ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS
• How would you model 2x2 + x + 4?

x2 x2 x
1 1 1 1
 ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS
• What algebraic expression is modeled below?

2x - 3
 Adding Polynomials
• To use algebra tiles to model 3 + (2x + 4)
represent each addend with tiles.

3 + 2x + 4 = 2x + 7
1 1 1
1 1 1 +
x x
1 1 1 1 = x x
1 1 1 1

Combine
the tiles
 Adding Polynomials

• Find the sum:

• 2x + (5x + 4)

x x x x x
x x
+ x x x x x
1 1 1 1
=
x x
1 1 1 1

2x + (5x + 4) = 7x + 4
 Adding Polynomials

• Find the sum:

• (x - 3) + (2x - 4)

1 1 1
x x x x x x
1 1 1 + 1 1 1 1 = 1 1 1 1

(x - 3) + (2x - 4) = 3x - 7
 Adding Polynomials
Add: (x2 + 3x + 1) + (4x2 +5)

Step 1: Underline like terms:

(x2 + 3x + 1) + (4x2 +5)

Notice: ‘3x’ doesn’t have a like term.

Step 2: Add the coefficients of like terms, do not change

the powers of the variables:
(x2 + 4x2) + 3x + (1 + 5)
5x2 + 3x + 6
 Adding Polynomials
Some people prefer to add polynomials by stacking them.
If you choose to do this, be sure to line up the like terms!
(x2 + 3x + 1)
(x2 + 3x + 1) + (4x2 +5) + (4x2 +5)
5x2 + 3x + 6

Stack and add these polynomials: (2a2+3ab+4b2) + (7a2+ab+-2b2)

(2a2 + 3ab + 4b2)
(2a2+3ab+4b2) + (7a2+ab+-2b2) + (7a2 + ab + -2b2)
9a2 + 4ab + 2b2
 Adding Polynomials
• Add the following polynomials; you may stack them if you
prefer:

1) 3x  7x  3x  4x   6x  3x

3 3 3

2) 2w  w  5  4w  7w 1 6w  8w  4

2 2 2

3) 2a  3a  5a  a  4a  3 
3 2 3

3 2
3a  3a  9a  3