1. Adding and Subtracting Polynomials
5.2
Adding and Subtracting Polynomials
A term is a number, a variable, or the product or quotient of a number and one or more variables raised to powers.
The number in the product is called the numerical coefficient, or just the coefficient.
8k3 8 is the coefficient
–4p5, –4 is the coefficient

2. An algebraic expression is any combination of variables or constants (numerical values) joined by the basic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division (expect by 0), or raising to powers or taking roots, formed according to the rules of algebra.

3. Polynomial Polynomials Not Polynomials
A polynomial is a term or a finite sum of terms in which all variables have whole number exponents and no variables appear in denominators.
Polynomials
Not Polynomials

4. A polynomial in one variable is written in descending powers of the variable if the exponents on the variable decrease from left to right.
x5 – 6x2 + 12x – 5

5. EXAMPLE 1 Write the polynomial in descending powers of the variable.
–3z4 + 2z3 + z5 – 6z
The largest exponent is 5, it would be the first term.
z5 – 3z4 + 2z3 – 6z

6. Trinomial: has exactly three terms Binomial: has exactly two terms
Some polynomials with a specific number of terms are so common that they are given special names.
Trinomial: has exactly three terms
Binomial: has exactly two terms
Monomial: has only one term
Type of Polynomial
Examples
Trinomial
y2 + 11y + 6, 8p3 – 7p + 2m, –3 + 2k5 + 9z4
Binomial
3x2 – 6, y + 8, a2b + 3a
Monomial
5x, m9, –8, x2y2
None of these
p3 – 5p2 + 2p – 5, –9z3 + 5c2 + 2m5 + 11r2 – 7r

7. The degree of a term with one variable is the exponent on the variable.
The degree of 2x3 is 3.
The degree of –x4 is 4.
The degree of 17x is 1.
The greatest degree of any term in a polynomial is called the degree of the polynomial.

8. The table shows several polynomials and their degrees.
9x2 – 5x + 8 2
17m9 + 18m14 – 9m3 14 5x
1, because 5x = 5x1 –2
0, because –2 = –2x0 (Any nonzero constant has degree 0.)
5a2b5
7, because = 7
x3y9 + 12xy4 + 7xy
12, because the degree of the terms are 12, 5, and 2, and 12 is the greatest.

9. Subtracting Polynomials
Adding Polynomials
To add two polynomials, combine like terms.
Subtracting Polynomials
To subtract two polynomials, add the first polynomial and the negative of the second polynomial.

10. EXAMPLE 2 Combine like terms. a. 5x2z – 3x3z2 + 8x2z + 12x3z2
b. 2z4 + 3x4 + z4 – 9x4
3x4 – 9x4 + 2z4 + z4
– 6x4 + 3z4

11. EXAMPLE 3 Add. a. (–5p3 + 6p2) + (8p3 – 12p2)
Use commutative and associative properties to rearrange the polynomials so that like terms are together. Then use the distributive property to combine like terms.
(–5p3 + 6p2) + (8p3 – 12p2)
= –5p3 + 8p3 + 6p2 – 12p2
= 3p3 – 6p2

12. continued b. –6r5 + 2r3 – r2 8r5 – 2r3 + 5r2
You can add polynomials vertically by placing like terms in columns.
2r5
+ 4r2
The solution is 2r5 + 4r2

13. EXAMPLE 4 Subtract a. (p4 + p3 + 5) – (3p4 + 5p3 + 2)
Change every sign in the second polynomial and add.
(p4 + p3 + 5) – (3p4 + 5p3 + 2)
= p4 + p3 + 5 – 3p4  5p3  2
= p4 – 3p4 + p3 – 5p3 + 5 – 2
= –2p4 – 4p3 + 3

14. continued b. 2k3 – 3k2 – 2k + 5 4k3 + 6k2 – 5k + 8
To subtract vertically, write the first polynomial above the second, lining up like terms in columns.
Change all the signs in the second polynomial and add.
2k3 – 3k2 – 2k + 5
– 4k3 – 6k2 + 5k – 8
2k3
 9k2
+ 3k 3
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