01 Polynomials, The building blocks of algebra

College Algebra

Active participation in your education

Timely analysis your own work (personally I learn from my errors). Verbalize situations.

What did I do wrong?

Why was it wrong?

What did I need to do right? Why is this way right? Keep this in mind
as you take notes.

1.1 Underlying field of numbers Numbers

Natural / Counting Integers Rational Irrational

Real Numbers

Irrational
3

5 2

1.2 Indeterminates, variables, parameters

Given: ax2 + bx + c Usual thought: x = variable a, b, & c = constants

Likewise

mx + c
you may recognize and associate this expression with a linear equation The idea (and warning) is to look for definitions

Textbooks (and some teachers) lull us into complacency regarding equations and format. Linear equations is a good example of this mathematical rut. (I hope to encourage your thinking patterns out of this mathematical rut of how things are represented or mentally translated.)

Linear equations

Most books teach the following: Slope Intercept Form: y = mx + b Ax + By = C Standard Form: y y1 = m(x - x1) Point Slope Form:

These are the same types of equations

c = pn + d pn + c = d Profit = price*quanity - cost

Pythagorean Theorem is a good example also a2 + b2 = c2

What if we are talking about a: Building = B Ladder = L Ground Distance = G

B2 + G2 = L2
L B

Variables

Used to represent and unknown quantity or a changing value.

x 3x 2y

y+2 mx + b

1.3 Basics of Polynomials

Parts
Coefficient Variable Terms Monomials Polynomial (multiple terms)

3x2y + 4xy
Remember you may have definitions

1.4 Working with Polynomials To add or subtract one must have like terms. 3xy + 4xy = 7xy 3xy+4x is in simplified form

Rules of Exponents: MULTIPLICATION

Multiply like Add exponents Bases

m a * 2 3 n a 4 3 m+n a

2+4 3

6 3

Rules of Exponents: Exponents

Exp raised to an Exp

m n (a ) 2 4 (3 )

Multiply exponents
m*n a

2*4 3 =

8 3

Rules of Exponents: DIVISION

Divide like Bases am an 34 32

Subtract exponents
m-n a

4-2 3

2 3

Rules of Exponents:

Quantity to an Exponent

Qty raised to an Exp

m (ab)

Distribute exponents
m m a b

(3x)4

4 4 3x

Rules of Exponents: Negative Exp

Number raised to a neg Exp a-m

= the reciprocal 1 am
12 2 3 1 =9

3-2

Degrees of Polynomials

3x2y + 4xy

Degrees will be dependent on the definition of the variables. The degree is the highest (combined value) of the exponents of one term. Degree of x2y = 3 Degree of xy = 2 Therefore the degree of 3x2y + 4xy = 3

Degrees of Polynomials

3x2y + 4xy

Generally speaking, the degree of 3x2y + 4xy = 3 How will this change is y is defined as a constant and x is a variable?

Degrees of Polynomials

3x2y + 4xy

Generally speaking, the degree of 3x2y + 4xy = 3 How will this change is y is defined as a constant and x is a variable? The Degree = 2 because 2 is the highest exponent of the VARIABLE

1.5 Examples of Polynomial Expressions

What is the degree of f(x)? f(x) = x6-3x5+3x4-2x3-2x2-x+3 What is the degree? 11x4y-3x3y2+7x2y3-6xy4 What is the degree if y is a variable? g(x) = 11x4y-3x3y3+7x2y3-2xy4

1.5 Examples of NOW WHAT happensPolynomial Expressions

f(x) = x6-3x5+3x4-2x3-2x2-x+3 g(x) = 11x4-3x3+7x2-2x

1. f(x)+g(x) 2. f(x)g(x) 3. f(g(x))

1.5 Examples of NOW WHAT happensPolynomial Expressions

f(x) = x6-3x5+3x4-2x3-2x2-x+3 g(x) = 11x4-3x3+7x2-2x

1. f(x)+g(x)

x6-3x5+3x4-2x3 -2x2 -x+3 + 11x4-3x3+7x2 -2x x6-3x5+14x4-5x3+5x2-3x+3

Possible questions.. What is the degree? What is the coefficient of the x cubed term?

1.5 Examples of NOW WHAT happensPolynomial Expressions

f(x) = x6-3x5+3x4-2x3-2x2-x+3 g(x) = 11x4-3x3+7x2-2x

2. f(x)g(x) -- distributive property
This could be ugly if one was asked to complete the multiplication

(x6-3x5+3x4-2x3-2x2-x+3)(11x4-3x3+7x2-2x)= 11x10-3x9+7x8 -2x7 -33x9+9x8-21x7+6x6 +33x8-9x7+21x6-6x5 what is the degree of the product?

1.5 Examples of NOW WHAT happensPolynomial Expressions

f(x) = x6-3x5+3x4-2x3-2x2-x+3 g(x) = (11x4-3x3+7x2-2x)

3. f(g(x))

(11x4-3x3+7x2-2x)6-3(11x4-3x3+7x2-2x)5 +3(11x4-3x3+7x2-2x)4-2(11x4-3x3+7x2-2x)32(11x4-3x3+7x2-2x)2-(11x4-3x3+7x2-2x)+3 = (11x4-3x3+7x2-2x)6- 116x24-36x18+76x12-64x6-

what is the degree?

WebHomework Syntax
add subtract multiply divide quantities exponents + * / ( ) ^

Be SPECIFIC!!!!!

Be SPECIFIC!!!!!

WebHomework Syntax
3x2y + 4xy 3*x^2*y+4*x*y 4Ab - 5aB3 4*A*b-5*a*B^3 (Case Sensitive) 7 x2 Quantities y 2z ((7+x^2)/(2*z))*y No extra spaces

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