Lesson 4.

4 Addition and Subtraction of Polynomials

California Standards
10.0 Students add, subtract, multiply, and divide monomials and polynomials. Student solve multistep problems, including word problems, by using these techniques.

Objectives:

Within the learning period, I will be able to *Add and subtract polynomials. *Find the value of a polynomial for a given value of the variable.

An expression which is the sum of terms of the form a x k where k is a nonnegative integer is a polynomial. Polynomials are usually written in standard form.

Standard form means that the terms of the polynomial are placed in descending order, from largest degree to smallest degree.

Polynomial in standard form:

2 x 3 + 5x 2 4 x + 7
Leading coefficient Degree Constant term

The degree of each term of a polynomial is the exponent of the variable The degree of a polynomial is the largest degree of its terms. When a polynomial is written in standard form, the coefficient of the first term is the leading coefficient

Like Terms refers to monomials that have the same variable(s) but may have different coefficients. The variables in the terms must have the same powers.

Which terms are like?

3a2b, 4ab2, 3ab, -5ab2

4ab2 and -5ab2 are like. Even though the others have the same variables, the exponents are not the same. 3a2b = 3aab, which is different from 4ab2 = 4abb

Constants are like terms.

Which terms are like? 2x, -3, 5b, 0

-3 and 0 are like. Which terms are like? 3x, 2x2, 4, x

3x and x are like. Which terms are like? 2wx, w, 3x, 4xw

2wx and 4xw are like.

Add: (x2 + 3x + 1) + (4x2 +5) Step 1: Underline like terms:

(x2 + 3x + 1) + (4x2 +5)

Notice: 3x doesnt have a like term. Step 2: Add the coefficients of like terms, do not change the powers of the variables:

(x2 + 4x2) + 3x + (1 + 5) 5x2 + 3x + 6

Some people prefer to add polynomials by stacking them. If you choose to do this, be sure to line up the like terms! (x2 + 3x + 1) + (4x2 +5) (x2 + 3x + 1) + (4x2 +5) 5x2 + 3x + 6
Stack and add these polynomials: (2a2+3ab+4b2) + (7a2+ab+-2b2)

(2a2 + 3ab + 4b2) (2a2+3ab+4b2) + (7a2+ab+-2b2) + (7a2 + ab + -2b2) 9a2 + 4ab + 2b2

Add the following polynomials; you may stack them if you prefer:

1) (3 x 7 x) + (3x + 4 x ) = 6 x 3x
3 3 3

2) (2 w + w 5) + (4w + 7 w + 1)= 6w 2 + 8w 4
2 2

3) (2a + 3a + 5a )+ (a + 4a + 3) = 3a + 3a + 9a + 3
3 2 3

Subtract: (3x2 + 2x + 7) - (x2 + x + 4)

Step 1: Change subtraction to addition (Keep-Change-Change.).

(3x2 + 2x + 7) + (- x2 + - x + - 4)
Step 2: Underline OR line up the like terms and add.

(3x2 + 2x + 7) + (- x2 + - x + - 4) 2x2 + x + 3

Subtract the following polynomials by changing to addition (Keep-Change-Change.), then add:

2 2

1) (x x 4) (3x 4 x + 1)= 2 x + 3 x 5
2

2) (9 y 3y + 1) (2 y + y 9)= 7 y 4 y + 10
2 2

3) (2g + g 9) (g + 3g + 3)= g g + g 12
2 3 2

Opposite of a Polynomial
Simplify.
3

(a + b + c) = a b c

1) (x + 4x 9) x 4x + 9
3

3) (t + t 9t 2)
4 3

t t + 9t + 2
4 3

2) (y 2y + 7y)
5 3

4) (5y 8y + 9y 3)
3 2

y + 2y 7y
5 3

5y3 + 8y 2 9y + 3

Application
A farmer must add the areas of two plots of land to determine the amount of seed to plant. The area of plot A can be represented by 3x2 + 7x 5, and the area of plot B can be represented by 5x2 4x + 11. Write a polynomial that represents the total area of both plots of land.

(3x2 + 7x 5) + (5x2 4x + 11) 8x2 + 3x + 6

Plot A. Plot B. Combine like terms.

Write an expression that represents the area of the shaded region in terms of x.

1)
3 6

x+2

2)
9 5 5 x x+ +2 2 3x + 7

2x + 5

6(2x + 5) + 3(x + 2) 12x + 30 + 3x + 6 15x + 36

9(3x + 7) 5(x + 2) 27x + 63 5x 10 22x + 53

Write an expression that represents the area of the shaded region in terms of x.

1)
5 7

3x 2x
2

2)
8 3 3

2x 2 + 4 x x22 8 8

6x 2 + 5x

7(6x + 5x) + 5(3x 2x)

2 2

8(2x + 4) 3(x 2 8)
2

42x + 35x + 15x 10x

2 2

16x + 32 3x + 24
2 2

57x + 25x
2

13x + 56
2

More Examples
Add or subtract. 1. 7m2 + 3m + 4m2 11m2 + 3m 4r2 3s2

2. (r2 + s2) (5r2 + 4s2)

3. (10pq + 3p) + (2pq 5p + 6pq) 18pq 2p 4. (14d2 8) + (6d2 2d + 1) 20d2 2d 7 5. (2.5ab + 14b) (1.5ab + 4b) 4ab + 10b

6. A painter must add the areas of two walls to determine the amount of paint needed. The area of the first wall is modeled by 4x2 + 12x + 9, and the area of the second wall is modeled by 36x2 12x + 1. Write a polynomial that represents the total area of the two walls. Answer: 40x2 + 10

Individual Practice - HOMEWORK Problem Set 4.4, TB pp. 258-259 Multiples of 4 (4, 8, , 60)