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Lesson 4 - ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

The document discusses algebraic expressions and properties of real numbers. It defines variables, monomials, binomials, and polynomials. It also covers adding and subtracting polynomials by combining like terms, and multiplying polynomials using the distributive property and special product formulas.

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31 views

Lesson 4 - ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

The document discusses algebraic expressions and properties of real numbers. It defines variables, monomials, binomials, and polynomials. It also covers adding and subtracting polynomials by combining like terms, and multiplying polynomials using the distributive property and special product formulas.

Uploaded by

Polygon Music
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Algebraic Expressions

A variable is a letter that can represent any number from a given set of numbers. If we start with
variables, such as x, y, and z and some real numbers, and we combine them using addition,
subtraction, multiplication, division, powers, and roots, we obtain an algebraic expression. Here
are some examples:
2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 4

𝑥 + 10

𝑦 − 2𝑧
𝑦2 + 4

A monomial is an expression of the form 𝑎𝑥 𝑘 , where a is a real number and k is a nonnegative


integer. A binomial is a sum of two monomials and a trinomial is a sum of three monomials. In
general, a sum of monomials is called a polynomial.
Polynomial Type Terms Degree

2𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 + 4 Trinomial 2𝑥 3 , −3𝑥, 4 3

𝑥 8 + 5𝑥 Binomial 𝑥 8 , 5𝑥 8

8 − 𝑥 + 𝑥2 Four terms 1 3 2 3
− 𝑥 , 𝑥 , −𝑥, 8
1 3 2
− 𝑥
2
5𝑥 + 1 Binomial 5𝑥, 1 1

9𝑥 5 Monomial 9𝑥 5 5

6 Monomial 6 0
Properties of Real Numbers

Commutative Properties

𝑎+𝑏 = 𝑏+𝑎 When we add two numbers, order doesn’t matter.


𝑎𝑏 = 𝑏𝑎 When we multiply two numbers, order doesn’t matter.

Associative Properties

𝑎+𝑏 +𝑐 =𝑎+ 𝑏+𝑐 When we add three numbers, it doesn’t matter which two we add
first.
𝑎𝑏 𝑐 = 𝑎(𝑏𝑐) When we multiply three numbers, it doesn’t matter which two we
multiply first.

Distribution Property

𝑎 𝑏 + 𝑐 = 𝑎𝑏 + 𝑎𝑐 When we multiply a number by a sum of two numbers, we get the


𝑏 + 𝑐 𝑎 = 𝑎𝑏 + 𝑎𝑐 same result as multiplying the number by each of the terms and then
adding the results.
Adding and Subtracting Polynomials

We add and subtract polynomials using the properties of real numbers that we discussed. The idea
is to combine like terms (that is, term with the same variable raised to the same powers) using the
Distributive Property. For instance,
5𝑥 7 + 3𝑥 7 = 5 + 3 𝑥 7 = 8𝑥 7

In subtracting polynomials, we have to remember that if a minus sign precedes an expression in


parenthesis, then the sign of every term within the parentheses is changed when we remove the
parentheses:
− 𝑏 + 𝑐 = −𝑏 − 𝑐
This is simply a case of the Distributive Property, 𝑎 𝑏 + 𝑐 = 𝑎𝑏 + 𝑎𝑐, 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎 = −1.
Example 1 Adding and Subtracting Polynomials

Find the sum (𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 4)+(𝑥 3 + 5𝑥 2 − 7𝑥)


Solution
(𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 4) + (𝑥 3 +5𝑥 2 − 7𝑥) Group like terms
= 𝑥 3 + 𝑥 3 + −6𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 7𝑥 +4
= 2𝑥 3 −𝑥 2 −5𝑥 +4 Combine like terms

Find the difference 𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 4 − (𝑥 3 + 5𝑥 2 − 7𝑥)


Solution
𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 4 − (𝑥 3 + 5𝑥 2 − 7𝑥)
= 𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 4 − 𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 Distributive Property

= (𝑥 3 − 𝑥 3 ) +(−6𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 2 ) +(2𝑥 + 7𝑥) +4 Group the like terms

= −11𝑥 2 +9𝑥 +4 Combine like terms


Example 2 Multiplying Binomials Using FOIL

2𝑥 + 1 3𝑥 − 5 Distributive Property (FOIL method)

= 6𝑥 2 −10𝑥 +3𝑥 −5 Combining like terms


= 6𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 − 5

Example 3 Multiplying Polynomials


Find the product: (2𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 4)

Solution 1: Using the Distributive Property

(2𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 4)

= (2𝑥 ∙ 𝑥 2 −2𝑥 ∙ 5𝑥 +2𝑥 ∙ 4 )+(3 ∙ 𝑥 2 −3 ∙ 5𝑥 +3 ∙ 4)


= 2𝑥 3 − 10𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 + (3𝑥 2 − 15𝑥 + 12)
= 2𝑥 3 −7𝑥 2 −7𝑥 +12 Combine like terms
Special Product Formulas
The key idea in using these formulas (or any other formula in algebra) is the Principle of
Substitution: We may substitute any algebraic expression for any letter in a formula. For
example, to find (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 3 )2 we use Product Formula 2, substituting 𝑥 2 for A and 𝑦 3 for
B.
Example 4 Using the Special Product Formulas

a. 3𝑥 + 5 2

Substituting A = 3𝑥 and 𝐵 = 5 in the Formula 2, we get


(3𝑥 + 5)2
= (3𝑥)2 + 2 3𝑥 5 + 52

= 9𝑥 2 + 30𝑥 + 25

b. (𝑥 2 −2)3

Substituting A = 𝑥 2 and 𝐵 = 2 in the Formula 5, we get


(𝑥 2 −2)3
= (𝑥 2 )3 − 3(𝑥 2 )2 2 + 3(𝑥 2 )(2)2 − 23
= 𝑥 6 − 6𝑥 4 + 12𝑥 2 − 8

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