Mathematics Bridging

B LECTURE #2/ Math and English Bridging Program A.Y: 2023-2024

Michelle Raza- Math Faculty
Introduction to Algebraic Expressions
This process of substituting or "plugging in" the value of a
Algebraic Expressions variable to the given expression is called evaluating an
Combinations of constants (numbers) and/or expression. In doing so, we find the number value of the
variables (letters that stand for numbers) involving the entire expression.
operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and
division (except division by zero). Identifying Polynomials
A polynomial is an algebraic expression made up of sums,
differences, and products of variables and numbers. Variables
should have positive integer exponents.

Expressions containing quotients where the variable is in the

Examples denominator are not polynomials.
The table below presents different examples of algebraic
expressions. Using a letter to represent a number, the The following are polynomials.
algebraic expressions on the left represent the English
-5 constant term
phrases on the right.
1/2 constant term
Algebraic Expressions English phrase 2w Product of 2 and w
i) 7+10 10 added to 7 a^2 + a^b + 8b^2 Sum of a^2, ab and 8b^2
ii) x+3 3 added to x
iii) w−9 9 subtracted from w The following are not polynomials.
iv) 20÷4 or 20/4 20 divided by 4 1 3/n There is a variable is in the
v) 5∗x or 5x 5 times x denominator.
Notice in example (v) that symbols for multiplication may be x2y^-4 The exponent of y is
left out. From now on, we agree that a number written next negative.
to a variable will always mean multiplication. 8s^1/2 The exponent of s is not an
integer
Keywords: Key words in a phrase indicate the operation
involved. Some common words or phrases that indicate Classifying Polynomials
addition are Polynomials are named depending on how many terms they
contain.
 plus,
 added to, If a polynomial contains one term, it is called a monomial.
 sum of, and If a polynomial contains two terms, it is called a binomial.
 increased by. If a polynomial contains three term, it is called a trinomial.
These are the clues to help decide that addition is the
operation to use. For example, the expression g+8 can be read A polynomial with two or more terms is called a multinomial
in English as or a polynomial of n terms, where n is the number of terms.
 g plus 8 Example:
 8 added to g 7g monomial
 sum of g and 8 x + 5y binomial
 g increased by 8 2t^3 - 3t^2 + 7 trinomial
Evaluate an Algebraic Expression 2x + 3y - 4z + 8 Polynomial of four
In every algebraic expression containing variable(s) such as w terms/multinomial
- 9, the number value of the expression depends on what
number the variable stands for. To find the value of the
expressions 2 - 9, we must know what number w stand for.

If w = 2, then w - 9 = 2 - 9 = -7.
If w = 5, then w - 9 = 5 - 9 = -4.
If w = -7, then w - 9 = -7 - 9 = -16. Giving the Degree of a Term
 Every term, except zero, has a degree.
1 | Ara Belle Ponce Bachelor of Arts in Economics Date: 2023/08/08
 Mathematics Bridging
B LECTURE #2/ Math and English Bridging Program A.Y: 2023-2024
Michelle Raza- Math Faculty
Introduction to Algebraic Expressions
 The degree of a constant is zero, except for the
constant 0 which is said to have no degree.
 The degree of a term with one variable is
determined by the exponent on the variable.
Example:
5 The degree is 0 because 5 is
a constant.
y The degree is 1 because y = This states that we use 2 as a factor in a product 4 times.
y^1 Hence, 2^4 = 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 evaluates to 16.
a^5 The degree is 5, the
exponent of variable a.  a^0 = 1 provided that a is not equal to 0.
Any nonzero base raised to the zero power is equal to 1
If a term has more than one variable, the sum of the Examples:
exponents of the variable in the term is called the degree of a 8^0 = 1
term. X^0 = 1
7n^0 = 7 * 1 = 7
Example: Multiply power with the same base
10x^2y The degree is 3 because 2 If m and n are positive integers and a is any real number, then
plus 1 is 3. am * an = am+n.
3a^2b^2 The degree is 4 because 2
plus 2 is 4. Example:
a8 * a2 = a8+2
Sum of Polynomials = a10
The sum of two or more polynomials is the polynomial
formed by adding like terms of each polynomial. Raising a power to a power
If m and n are positive integers and a is any real number, then
(am)n = am*n

To raise a power of a base to a power, we keep the same base

and multiply the exponents. This procedure is called raising a
power to a power.

The expression (m4)3 means we want to raise the fourth

power of m to the power of 3. Applying the second law of
Subtraction of Polynomials exponents,
In a subtraction problem, change the signs of all terms in the
subtrahend; the problem thus become one of addition. (m4)3 = m4*3 We keep the same base and multiply the
Proceed with addition. exponents.
= m12
Raise a product to a power
If n is a positive integer and a and b are any real numbers,
then
(a * b)n = an * bn
To raise a product to a power, we raise each factor to that
power.

Integral Exponents
The expression 2^4 has a base of 2 and an exponent of 4
2 | Ara Belle Ponce Bachelor of Arts in Economics Date: 2023/08/08
 Mathematics Bridging
B LECTURE #2/ Math and English Bridging Program A.Y: 2023-2024
Michelle Raza- Math Faculty
Introduction to Algebraic Expressions
To multiply two monomials:
(1) multiply the numerical coefficients to obtain the
numerical coefficient of the product;
(2) multiply the variables by adding the exponents of
the common variables to obtain the exponents of
the product.
Example: Multiply (2x3) (5x4).
Solution:
Raise a fraction to a power (2x3) (5x4)
If n is a positive integer and a and b are real numbers where b = 10x7
is not equal to zero, then
Multiply Binomials
To multiply binomials:
(1) we multiply the first term in the first binomial times each
term in the second binomial;
(2) we multiply the second term in the first binomial times
each term in the second binomial;
(3) finally, we combine like terms.

Example
Multiply (x - 2) (3x + 1)
= x (3x + 1) - 2(3x + 1)
Divide powers of the same base
= 3x2 + x - 6x - 2
If m and n are positive integers and a is a nonzero base. then
= 3x2 - 5x – 2
am/an= am-n
Multiply Three Polynomials
To divide powers of the same base, we keep the same base
To find the product of three polynomials, such as 2x (x - 3) (5x
and subtract the exponent in the denominator from the
+ 1), we can use the associative property to find the product
exponent in the numerator.
the easiest way.
Example
Example:
Multiply 2x (x - 3) (5x + 1)
Y9/y7 = y9-7 = y2
Solution
= 2x (5x2 - 14x - 3)
Simplify expressions involving negative exponents
= 10x3 - 28x2 - 6x
If n is an integer and a is not equal to 0, then
a-n = 1/an

Divide a Polynomial
Multiplication of Polynomials
To divide a polynomial by a monomial, we may divide each
Multiplication of monomial factors is the simplest product
term of the polynomial dividend by the monomial divisor.
involving polynomials.

3 | Ara Belle Ponce Bachelor of Arts in Economics Date: 2023/08/08