Polynomials

By : Saloni Garg

Introduction
An algebraic expression in which variables involved have only non-negative integral powers is called a polynomial. E.g.- (a) 2x34x2+6x3 is a polynomial in one variable x. (b) 8p7+4p2+11p3-9p is a polynomial in one variable p. (c) 4+7x4/5+9x5 is an expression but not a polynomial since it contains a term x4/5, where 4/5 is not a non-negative integer.

Degree of a Polynomial in one variable.

What is degree of the following binomial?

5x + 3
2
The answer is 2. 5x2 + 3 is a polynomial in x of degree 2.

In case of a polynomial in one variable, the highest power of the variable is called the degree of polynomial.

Degree of a Polynomial in two variables.

What is degree of the following polynomial?

5 x y 7 x + 3 xy + 9 y + 4
2 3 3
The

answer is five because if we add 2 and 3 , the answer is five which is the highest power in the whole polynomial. E.g.-

3 x y 5 x + 8 xy + 2 y + 9
3 4 2

is a polynomial in x

and y of degree 7. In case of polynomials on more than one variable, the sum of powers of the variables in each term is taken up and the highest sum so obtained is called the degree of polynomial.

Polynomials in one variable

A polynomial is a monomial or a sum of monomials. Each monomial in a polynomial is a term of the polynomial. The number factor of a term is called the coefficient. The coefficient of the first term in a polynomial is the lead coefficient. A polynomial with two terms is called a binomial. A polynomial with three term is called a trinomial.

Polynomials in one variable

The degree of a polynomial in one variable is the largest exponent of that variable.

A constant has no variable. It is a 0 degree polynomial.

4x + 1
2

This is a 1st degree polynomial. 1st degree polynomials are linear. This is a 2nd degree polynomial. 2nd degree polynomials are quadratic.

5 x + 2 x 14 3 degree polynomial. 3rd degree 3 x 18 This is a 3rd are cubic. polynomials

Examples
Polynomials Degree
Text

Classify by degree Classify by no. of terms.

5 2x - 4
Text

0 1 2

Constant Linear Quadratic

Text

Monomial Txt Binomial Binomial Trinomial

3x2 + x x3 - 4x2 + 1
Text

Cubic

Standard Form
How to convert a polynomial into standard form?
Phase 1 Phase 1
To rewrite a polynomial in standard form, rearrange the terms of the polynomial starting with the largest degree term and ending with the lowest degree term.

Phase 2 Phase 2

The leading coefficient, the coefficient of the first term in a polynomial written in standard form, should be positive.

Remainder Theorem
Let f(x) be a polynomial of degree n > 1 and let a be any real number. When f(x) is divided by (x-a) , then the remainder is f(a). TEXT TEXT TEXT
is r(x). Then, degree r(x) < degree (x-a) degree r(x) < 1 degree r(x) = 0 r(x) is constant, equal to r (say) Thus, when f(x) is divided by (x-a), then the quotient is g9x) and the remainder is r. Therefore, f(x) = (x-a)*g(x) + r Putting x=a in (i), we get r = f(a) Thus, when f(x) is divided by (x-a), then the remainder is f(a). (i) [ therefore, degree (x-a)=1]

TEXT

PROOF Suppose when f(x) is divided by (x-a), the quotient is g(x) and the remainder

Questions on Remainder Theorem

Q.) Find the remainder when the polynomial f(x) = x4 + 2x3 3x2 + x 1 is divided by (x-2). A.) x-2 = 0 x=2

By remainder theorem, we know that when f(x) is divided by (x-2), the remainder is x(2). Now, f(2) = (24 + 2*23 3*22 + 2-1) = (16 + 16 12 + 2 1) = 21. Hence, the required remainder is 21.

Factor Theorem
Let f(x) be a polynomial of degree n > 1 and let a be any real number. (i) If f(a) = 0 then (x-a) is a factor of f(x). PROOF let f(a) = 0 On dividing f(x) by 9x-a), let g(x) be the quotient. Also, by remainder theorem, when f(x) is divided by (x-a), then the remainder is f(a). therefore f(x) = (x-a)*g(x) + f(a) f(x) = (x-a)*g(x) [therefore f(a)=0(given] (x-a) is a factor of f(x).

Algebraic Identities
Some common identities used to factorize polynomials

(a+b)2=a2+b2+2ab

(a-b)2=a2+b2-2ab

a2-b2=(a+b)(a-b)

(x+a)(x+b)=x2+(a+b)x+ab

Algebraic Identities
Advanced identities used to factorize polynomials

(x-y)3=x3-y33xy(x-y) x3+y3=(x+y) * (x2+y2-xy)

x3-y3=(x+y) * (x2+y2+xy)

(x+y)3=x3+y3+ 3xy(x+y)

(x+y+z)2=x2+y2+z2 +2xy+2yz+2zx

Q/A on Polynomials
Q.1) Show that (x-3) is a factor of polynomial f(x)=x3+x2-17x+15. A.1) By factor theorem, (x-3) will be a factor of f(x) if f(3)=0. Now, f(x)=x3+x2-17x+15 f(3)=(33+32-17*3+15)=(27+9-51+15)=0 (x-3) is a factor of f(x). Hence, (x-3) is a factor of the given polynomial f(x).

Q/A on Polynomials
Q.1) Factorize: (i) 9x2 16y2 (ii)x3-x A.1)(i) (9x2 16y2) = (3x)2 (4y)2 = (3x + 4y)(3x 4y) therefore, (9x2-16y2) = (3x + 4y)(3x 4y) (ii) (x3-x) = x(x2-1) = x(x+1)(x-1) therefore, (x3-x) = x(x + 1)(x-1)

Points to Remember

A real number a is a zero of a polynomial p(x) if p(a)=0. In this case, a is also called a root of the equation p(x)=0. Every linear polynomial in one variable has a unique zero, a non-zero constant polynomial has no zero, and every real number is a zero of the zero polynomial.