Polynomial

Basics Revisited
Algebraic Expressions

An algebraic expression is an expression made up of variables and constants along with

mathematical operators. 

An algebraic expression is a sum of terms, which are considered to be building blocks

for expressions.

A term is a product of variables and constants. A term can be an algebraic expression in

itself.
Examples of a term - 3 which is just a constant.
- 2x, which is the product of constant '2' and the variable 'x'
- 4xy, which is the product of the constant '4' and the variables 'x' and 'y'.
- 5x y, which is the product of 5, x, x and y.
2

The constant in each term is referred to as the coefficient .

Example of an algebraic expression - 3x 2

y + 4xy + 5x + 6 - which is the sum of four terms -
2
3x y,  4xy,  5x and 6

An algebraic expression can have any number of terms. The coefficient in each term can be
any real number. There can be any number of variables in an algebraic expression. The
exponent on the variables, however, must be rational numbers.

Polynomial

An algebraic expression can have exponents that are rational numbers. However, a

polynomial is an algebraic expression in which the exponent on any variable is a whole
number. 

5x
3
+ 3x + 1 is an example of a polynomial. It is an algebraic expression as well

2x + 3√x is an algebraic expression, but not a polynomial. - since the exponent on x is 1

which is not a whole number.

Degree of a Polynomial

For a polynomial in one variable - the highest exponent on the variable in a polynomial is
the degree of the polynomial.
Example: The degree of the polynomial x 2
+ 2x + 3 is 2, as the highest power of x in the
given expression is x . 2

TYPES OF POLYNOMIALS

Polynomials can be classified based on

a) Number of terms
b) Degree of the polynomial.

Types of polynomials based on the number of terms

a) Monomial - A polynomial with just one term. Example - 2x, 6x , 9xy 2

b) Binomial - A polynomial with two terms. Example - 4x 2

+ x , 5x + 4

a) Trinomial - A polynomial with three terms. Example - x 2

+ 3x + 4

Types of polynomials based on degree:

Linear Polynomial

A polynomial whose degree is one is called a linear polynomial.

For example, 2x + 1 is a linear polynomial.

Quadratic Polynomial

A polynomial of degree two is called a quadratic polynomial.

For example, 3x 2
+ 8x + 5 is a quadratic polynomial.

Cubic Polynomial

A polynomial of degree three is called a cubic polynomial.

For example, 2x 3
+ 5x
2
+ 9x + 15 is a cubic polynomial.  

Graphical Representations
Representing Equations on a Graph
Any equation can be represented as a graph on the Cartesian plane, where each point on
the graph represents the x and y coordinates of the point that satisfies the equation. An
equation can be seen as a constraint placed on the x and y coordinates of a point, and any
point that satisfies that constraint will lie on the curve

For example, the equation y = x, on a graph, will be a straight line that joins all the points
which have their x coordinate equal to their y coordinate. Example - (1,1), (2,2) and so on.

Visualization of a Polynomial
Geometrical Representation of a Linear Polynomial

The graph of a linear polynomial is a straight line. It cuts the X-axis at exactly one point.
 Linear graph

Geometrical Representation of a Quadratic Polynomial

The graph of a quadratic polynomial is a parabola.

It looks like a U which either opens upwards or opens downwards depending on the
value of a in ax + bx + c. 
2

If a is positive then parabola opens upwards and if a is negative then it opens

downwards.
It can cut the x-axis at 0, 1 or two points.

Graph of a polynomial which cuts the x-axis in two distinct points (a>0)
 Graph of a Quadratic polynomial which touches the x-axis at one point (a>0)

Graph of a Quadratic polynomial that doesn't touch the x-axis (a<0)

Graph of the polynomial x n

For a polynomial of the form y = x where n is a whole number:

n

as n increases, the graph becomes steeper or draws closer to the Y-axis.

If n is odd, the graph lies in the first and third quadrants
 If n is even, the graph lies in the first and second quadrants.
The graph of y = −x is the reflection of the graph of  y = x on the x-axis
n n

Graph of polynomials with different degrees.

Zeroes of a Polynomial
Zeros of a Polynomial

A zero of a polynomial p(x) is the value of x for which the value of p(x) is 0. If k is a zero of
p(x), then p(k)=0.

For example, consider a polynomial p(x) = x 2

− 3x + 2 .
When x = 1, the value of p(x) will be equal to
2
p(1) = 1 − 3 × 1 + 2
= 1 − 3 + 2

= 0

Since p(x) = 0 at x = 1, we say that 1 is a zero of the polynomial x 2

− 3x + 2  

Geometrical Meaning of Zeros of a Polynomial

Geometrically, zeros of a polynomial are the points where its graph cuts the x-axis.

(i) One zero     (ii) Two zeros    (iii) Three zeros

Here A, B and C correspond to the zeros of the polynomial represented by the graphs.

Number of Zeros

In general a polynomial of degree n has at most n zeros.

1. A linear polynomial has one zero,

2. A quadratic polynomial has at most two zeros.
3. A cubic polynomial has at most 3 zeros.

Factorization of Polynomials
Factorisation of Quadratic Polynomials

Quadratic polynomials can be factorized by splitting the middle term. 

For example, consider the polynomial 2x 2

− 5x + 3

Splitting the middle term.

The middle term in the polynomial 2x − 5x + 3 is -5. This must be expressed as a sum of
2

two terms such that the product of their coefficients is equal to the product of 2 and 3
(coefficient of x and the constant term)
2

−5 can be expressed as (−2) + (−3), as −2 × −3 = 6 = 2 × 3

Thus, 2x 2
− 5x + 3 = 2x
2
− 2x − 3x + 3

Now, identify the common factors in individual groups

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

Taking (x − 1) as the common factor, this can be expressed as

2x(x − 1) − 3(x − 1) = (x − 1)(2x − 3)

Relationship between Zeroes and Coefficients

Relationship between Zeroes and Coefficients of a Polynomial

If α and β are the roots of  a quadratic polynomial ax 2

+ bx + c , then, 
b
α + β = −
a

c
αβ =
a

Sum of zeroes = −
coef f icient of  x

2
coef f icient of  x

Product of zeroes = constant term

2
coef f icient of  x

If α ,β and γ  are the roots of a cubic polynomial ax 3

+ bx
2
+ cx + d , then,
b
α + β + γ = −
a

c
αβ + βγ + γα =
a

−d
αβγ =
a

Division Algorithm
Division Algorithm for a Polynomial

To divide one polynomial by another, follow the steps given below.

Step 1: arrange the terms of the dividend and the divisor in the decreasing order of their
degrees.
Step 2: To obtain the first term of the quotient, divide the highest degree term of the
dividend by the highest degree term of the divisor  Then carry out the division process.

Step 3: The remainder from the previous division becomes the dividend for the next step.
Repeat this process until the degree of the remainder is less than the degree of the divisor.

Algebraic Identities
Algebraic Identities

1. (a + b) = a + 2ab + b
2 2 2

2. (a − b) = a − 2ab + b
2 2 2

3. (x + a)(x + b) = x + (a + b)x + ab
2

4. a − b = (a + b)(a − b)
2 2

5. a − b = (a − b)(a + ab + b )
3 3 2 2

6. a + b = (a + b)(a − ab + b )
3 3 2 2

7. (a + b) = a + 3a b + 3ab + b
3 3 2 2 3

8. (a − b) 3
= a
3 2
− 3a b + 3ab
2
− b
3