Learner Guide : : 7

3
ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS AND POLYNOMIALS
l Constant: Quantity which has a fixed l Like and Unlike Terms: Terms having same
numerical value e.g. 0, 1, 2 .... literal factors are called like or similar terms and
l Variable: Quantity which can take different terms having different literal factors are called
numerical values .A variable is represented by unlike terms.
a letter of the English alphabet such as a, b, c, l Degree of a polynomial : Sum of the
x, y, z etc. exponents of the variables in a term is called
l Algebraic expressions: A combination of degree of the term.
constants and variables, connected by any Degree of a polynomial is the same as the
or all of the four fundamental operations degree of its term or terms having the highest
(+, -, ×, ÷). degree and non-zero coefficient.
l Term: Each part of the expression alongwith l Quadratic polynomial : A polynomial of
its sign degree2 e.g. x2 – 3x + 2.
l Monomial: An algebraic expression containing l Zero degree polynomial: Degree of a non-
one term eg 6a2, 3x2y2 etc. zero constant polynomial is taken as zero
l Binomial: An algebraic expression containing Zero polynomial : When all the coefficients of
two terms e.g. a2 + b2, 7xy + y2 etc. variables in the terms of a polynomial are zeros,
l Trinomial: An algebraic expression containing the polynomial is called a zero polynomial and
three terms e.g. x2 + y2 + z2, x2 + 2xy + y2 etc. the degree of zero polynomial is not defined.
l Polynomial: An algebraic expression in which l Zeros of a polynomial: Value(s) of the variable
variable(s) does (do) not occur in the for which the value of a polynomial in one
denominator, exponents of variables are whole variable is zero.
numbers and numerical cofficients of various l Addition and subtraction of polynomials:
The sum of two (or more) like terms is a like
terms are real numbers e.g. x3 – 2y2 + y – 7 is
term whose numerical coefficient is the sum of
a polynomial while x3 – 1 is not a polynomial. the numerical coefficients of the like terms
x
The difference of two like terms is a like term
l Factor: When two or more numbers or whose numerical coefficient is the difference of
variables are multiplied, then each one of them the numerical coefficients of the like terms
and their product is called a factor of the
product. A constant factor is a numerical factor To add polynomials, add their like terms together
while a variable is known as a literal factor. e.g. 2x + 3x = 5x , 3x 2 y + 8x 2 y = 11x 2 y
l Coefficient: In a term any one of the facotrs To subtract a polynomial from another
with the sign of the term is the coefficient of the polynomial subtract a term from a like term e.g
product of the other factors e.g. in –3xy,
cofficient of x is –3y. 9x 2 y 2 − 5x 2 y2 = 4x 2 y2 , 5y − 2y = 3y .
l Constant Term: Term which has no literal l Multiplication of the polynomials: To multiply
factor e.g. in 2x + 9y + 7 the constant term is 7. a monomial by a monomial, use laws of
8 : : Learner Guide

exponents and the rules of the signs e.g. 3a × using laws of exponents and then multiply these
a2b2 = 3a3b2 quotients.
To multiply a polynomial by a monomial, To divide a polynomial by a monomial, divide
multiply each term of the polynomial by the each term of the polynomial by the monomial.
monomial. Process of division of a ploynomial by another
To multiply a polynomial by another polynomial polynomial is done on similar lines as in arithmatic
multiply each term of the one polynomial by each after arranging the terms of both polynomials
term of the other polynomial and simplify the In decreasing powers of the variable common
the result by combining like terms. to both of them.
l Division of polynomials: To divide a If remainder is zero the divisor is a factor of
monomial by another monomial, find the quotient dividend.
of numerical cofficients and variables separately Dividend = Divisor x quotient + Remainder.

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS:

1. The degree of a non zero constant is :
(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) 3
5 5 3
2. The coefficient of x in 7x y is :
(A) 7 (B) 43 (C) 7y3 (D) 5
3. The degree of the polynomial 5x6y4 + x2y + xy2 – 3xy + 4 is:
(A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 6 (D)10
4. Which of the following is a polynomial?
1 5
(A) x2 – 5 x +2 (B) x+ (C) 2 (D) None of these
x x − 3x + 1
5. A zero of the polynomial x 2 − 2x − 15 is:
(A) –5 (B) –3 (C) 0 (D) 3
6. Which of the following pairs of terms is a pair of like terms?
1
(A) 2a, 2b (B) 2xy3, 2x3y (C) 3x2y, yx 2 (D) 8, 16a
2

2 2 3 1
7. Add x + x + 1 and x 2 + x + 2 .
3 7 4
8. Subtract 7x 3 − 3x 2 + 2 from x2 – 5x + 2.
9. Find the product of (2x + 3) and (x2 – 3x +4).
10. Find the quotient and remainder when 6x2 – 5x +1 is divided by 2x – 1.
11. Evaluate 3xy – x3 – y3 + z3 at x = 2, y = 1, z = –3.
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STRETCH YOURSELF : ANSWERS

1. What should be added to x2 + xy + y2 to get CHECK YOUR PROGRESS:
2x2 + 3xy. 1. A 2. C 3. D
4. D 5. B 6. C
2. What should be subtracted from
–13x + 5y – 8 to get 11x – 16y +7? 23 2 5
7. x + x+6 8. –7x3 + 4x2 – 5x
3. Subtract the product of (x2 – xy + y2) and 21 4
(x + y) from the product of (x2 + xy + y2) 9. 2x3 – 3x2 – x + 12
and (x – y). What is the coefficient of x3 in 10. Quotient = 3x – 1, Remainder = 0
the product?
11. –54
4. Subtract 3x – y – xy from the sum of 3x – y
+ 2xy and – y – xy. What is the coefficient STRETCH YOURSELF:
of x in result? 1. x2 +2xy – y2 2. –24x + 21y – 15
3
3. –2y , 0 4. 2xy – y, 2y