POLYNOMIALS

1. 1 Introduction to Polynomials
1. 2 Remainder Theorem
1.3 Factor Theorem
1.4 Binomial Expansion
1.5 Binomial Theorem
1.6 Partial Fractions

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of the lesson, students should be able:
(a)

To define polynomials, and state the

degree of a polynomial and the leading

coefficient.
(b)

To recognize monomials, binomials and

trinomials.

(c)

To perform addition, subtraction and

multiplication of polynomials.

(d)

To perform division of polynomials and write

the answer in the form P(x)=Q(x)D(x)+R(x),
where the divisor can be linear or quadratic.

INTRODUCTION
Basic functions:

f ( x ) b (Constant function)
f ( x ) ax b , a 0 (Linear function)
2
f ( x ) ax bx c , a 0 (Quadratic function)
f ( x ) ax 3 bx 2 cx d , a 0, (Cubic function)
All these functions are special cases of the general
class of functions called Polynomial Functions

DEFINITION
A polynomial P(x) of degree n is defined as

P ( x ) an x an 1 x
n

n 1

where

nZ

and

a0 , a1 , a 2 ,...a n

... a1 x a0 ;

an 0

are called the coefficient of the polynomial

NOTE THAT:
(i)

The coefficient of the highest power of x,

an , is the leading coefficient

(ii) The constant term is a0
(iii) The degree of the polynomial is
determined by the highest power of x

Examples of polynomial functions:

Polynomial

Degree

5
7x + 4
3x2 + 2x + 1
4x3-1
9x4 + 11x+5

0
1
2
3
4

Name
Leading
Constant
using
coefficient term
Degree
0
Constant
5
Linear
7
4
3
1
Quadratic
Cubic
4
-1
9
quartic
5

Examples of non-polynomial expressions:

1
3

x 4 x,

5
1
3x ,
x

x x 3
1

x 3x 3
2

contains
non-positive
power of x.

MONOMIALS, BINOMIALS AND TRINOMIALS

Polynomials with one, two and three terms

are called monomials, binomials and

trinomials, respectively.
Name
Monomial
Binomial
Trinomial

Example

3x x
3
2
3x x 5
2

OPERATIONS OF POLYNOMIAL

ALGEBRAIC
OPERATIONS

ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION

The addition and subtraction of the polynomial

P (x)

and

Q(x)

can be performed by collecting similar terms.

EXAMPLE

P( x) 2 x 5x 4 and
4
3
2
Q( x) x x 3x 4 x.

Given

Determine
(a) P(x) + Q(x)
(b) P(x) Q(x)

SOLUTION

(a) P( x) Q( x)
4
3
4
3
2
( 2 x 5x 4 ) (x x 3x 4 x)

3x 4 x 3x 4 x 4
4

( b) P ( x ) Q ( x )
(2 x 5x 4) ( x x 3x 4 x)
4

x 6 x 3x 4 x 4
4

MULTIPLICATION
Every term in one polynomial is multiplied

by each term in the other polynomial.

EXAMPLE

P( x) x x 1 and
3
2
Q( x) 2 x x 1 .

Given

Determine

(a) 4Q(x)
(b) P(x)Q(x)

SOLUTION

(a ) 4Q( x) 4(2 x x 1)
3

8x 4 x 4
3

(b) P( x)Q( x) ( x x 1)(2 x x 1)

5
4
3
2
2 x 3x x 2 x x 1
2

NOTE THAT:

If P(x) is a polynomial
of degree m
and
Q(x) is a polynomial
of degree n,
Then
product P(x)Q(x) is
a polynomial of
degree (m + n)

Dividing Polynomials

Objectives:
To divide a polynomial by a monomial
To divide a polynomial by a polynomial

Example

2
8x
4x 1 by 2.
Divide

8x2 4x 1
2
8x
4x 1

2
2 2
2

1
4x 2x
2
2

Practice!!!
Divide.

1)

4x3 6x 5
2

2x3 6x2 4x
2)
2x

Example

Divide x 3x 2 by x 1 .
2

x +2
x 1 x2 3x 2
- ( x2 + x )
2x + 2
- (2x + 2 )
0
CHECK:

(x + 1)(x + 2)
= x2 + 2x + x + 2
= x2 + 3x + 2

DIVISION
The division of the polynomial can be expressed
in the form

P( x) D( x)Q( x) R( x)
where

D(x) Divisor
R(x) Remainder

Q(x) Quotient

LONG
DIVISION

35
17
2
Quotient

Hence,

Remainder

1
2

17
2 35
34

Divisor

35 (17)( 2) 1

EXAMPLE

Divide 2 x 3x 6 by x 1
2

SOLUTION

2x 1
2
x 1 2 x 3x 6
2x2 2x
x6
x 1
7

2 x 3x 6
7
2x 1
x 1
x 1
2
2 x 3x 6 (2 x 1)( x 1) 7
2

EXAMPLE

3x 4 x x 7
Determine
3x 4
3

by using long division.

EXAMPLE

x x x6
Determine
x 1x 3
4

Practice !!
i) Divide 2 x 9 x 7 x 6 by 2 x 1
3

2x 1x

Answer :

5x 6

ii) Divide 4 x 13x 2 x 15 by 4 x 5

3

Answer :

4x 5x

2x 3