1. Ma 375 - Communicating Mathematics
Carl Eberhart and Paul Eakin
Class 13
Using Maple to investigate polynomials

2. Polynomials are fundamental tools
in mathematics. They are used
from the very beginning in first
year algebra. They make a good
place to start learning how to use
Maple as a ‘symbolic manipulator’

3. Some terminology
Monomial in x: expressions like w*5*x^2
Degree in x: , the exponent of x
Coefficient of x^2: w*5
Polynomial in x: a sum of monomials in x, for example,
a*x^2 + b*x + c
Degree : 2
Coefficients of the polynomial a,b, and c

4. Maple words to work with polynomials
poly := 4*x^2 + 3*x -2;
degree(poly,x); returns 2, the degee of poly
coeff(poly,x); returns 3, the coefficient of
the x-term of poly
op(poly); returns the three operands of poly,
4*x^2, 3*x, and -2.

5. More Maple words for working with polynomials
Subs(x=w+t,poly); replaces x with w+t throughout
subsop(2=w); replaces 2nd term with w
expand(poly); removes parentheses
factor(poly); tries to write as product
divide(poly,factor); returns true if
factor divides poly, false if not.
rem(poly,factor,x); returns remainder.

6. Add to Assignment for 3/9/98
Work on the problems in the
worksheet. Make some progress.
your worksheet to me,
unexecuted.