ADDING AND

SUBTRACTING
POLYNOMIALS
identify like terms.

add and subtract polynomials

completely.

OBJECTIVES
Q and A Portion!
If 4a + 5a= 9a, then
3b + 7b= ____?
10b
If 7a + 5a = 12a ,
2 2 2

then
8b + 6b = ___?
2 2

14b 2
If ab + ab= 2ab,
then cd + 2cd=__?
3cd
If ab + cd= ab+ cd,
then cd + ef =__?
cd + ef
If 2a + 2b + 3a= 5a + 2b,
then
2x + 2y+ 3x= __?
5x + 2y
Like Terms -  terms that contain the same variables
raised to the same power.

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.

Constants are like terms.

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

-3 and 0 are like.

Just as you can perform operations on numbers,
you can perform operations on polynomials. To
add or subtract polynomials, combine like terms.
 Adding and Subtracting Monomials
Perform operations as indicated.
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.
C. t2 + 2s2 – 4t2 – s2
Identify like terms.
t2 + 2s2 – 4t2 – s2
Rearrange terms so that
t2 – 4t2 + 2s2 – s2 like terms are together.
–3t2 + s2 Combine like terms.

D. 10m2n + 4m2n – 8m2n

10m2n + 4m2n – 8m2n Identify like terms.

6m2n Combine like terms.

Adding and Subtracting Monomials

 TRY THIS!
Perform operations as indicated.

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.
Rearrange terms so that
= 4z4 + 16z4 – 8 + 2
like terms are together.
= 20z4 – 6 Combine like terms.

Adding and Subtracting Monomials

c. 2x8 + 7y8 – x8 – y8

= 2x8 + 7y8 – x8 – y8 Identify like terms.

= 2x8 – x8 + 7y8 – y8 Rearrange terms so that
like terms are together.
= x8 + 6y8 Combine like terms.

d. 9b3c2 + 5b3c2 – 13b3c2

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

= b3c2 Combine like terms.

Adding and Subtracting Monomials

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 terms.
5x2 + 4x + 1 (5x2 + 4x + 1) + (2x2 + 5x + 2)
+ 2x2 + 5x + 2
= (5x2 + 2x2) + (4x + 5x) + (1 + 2)
7x2 + 9x + 3
= 7x2 + 9x + 3

Adding Polynomials
Add the following.
A. (4m2 + 5) + (m2 – m + 6)
= (4m2 + 5) + (m2 – m + 6)
= (4m2 + m2) + (–m) +(5 + 6)
= 5m2 – m + 11
B. (10xy + x) + (–3xy + y)
= (10xy + x) + (–3xy + y)
= (10xy – 3xy) + x + y
= 7xy + x + y
Adding Polynomials
Identify like terms.
Group like terms
together.
Combine like terms.
Identify like terms.
Group like terms
together.
Combine like terms.
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) + (4x2 +5) x2 + 3x + 1

+ 4x2 +5
5x2 + 3x + 6

(2a2 + 3ab + 4b2)

(2a + 3ab + 4b ) + (7a + ab - 2b )
2 2 2 2

+ (7a2 + ab - 2b2)

9a2 + 4ab + 2b2

Adding Polynomials
 TRY THIS!
Add the following polynomials.

1) 3x  7x  3x  4x  

3 3 3
6x  3x

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

2 2

3) 2a  3a  5a  a  4a  3  3a  3a  9a  3
3 2 3 3 2

Adding Polynomials
To subtract polynomials, remember that
subtracting is the same as adding the opposite. 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
Subtract the following:

(x3 + 4y) – (2x3)

Rewrite subtraction as
= (x3 + 4y) + (–2x3) addition of the opposite.
= (x3 + 4y) + (–2x3) Identify like terms.

= (x3 – 2x3) + 4y Group like terms together.

= –x3 + 4y Combine like terms.

Subtracting Polynomials
(7m4 – 2m2) – (5m4 – 5m2 + 8)
Rewrite subtraction
as addition of
= (7m – 2m ) + (–5m + 5m – 8)
4 2 4 2
the opposite.

= (7m4 – 2m2) + (–5m4 + 5m2 – 8) Identify like terms.

= (7m4 – 5m4) + (–2m2 + 5m2) – 8 Group like terms

together.
= 2m4 + 3m2 – 8 Combine like terms.

Subtracting Polynomials
(3x2 + 2x + 7) - (x2 + x + 4)

= (3x2 + 2x + 7) + (- x2 - x - 4)

3x2 + 2x + 7
+ -x2 - x -4

2x2 + x + 3

Subtracting Polynomials
(–10x2 – 3x + 7) – (x2 – 9)

= (–10x2 – 3x + 7) + (–x2 + 9)

–10x2 – 3x + 7
+ –x2 +9
–11x2 – 3x + 16

Subtracting Polynomials
 Try this!

1. (r2 + s2) – (5r2 + 4s2) = –4r2 – 3s2

2. (14d2 – 8) – (6d2 – 2d +1) = 8d2 + 2d – 9

3. (25ab + 14b) – (–15ab + 4b) = 40ab + 10b

Subtracting Polynomials
Answer Follow-up Practice (nos.
11-14) on p. 200 of your book.

ACTIVTY 3.2