4.

POLYNOMIALS
 POLYNOMIALS
4. 1 Polynomials

4. 2 Remainder Theorem, Factor Theorem

and Zeros of Polynomial
4.1 POLYNOMIALS
Learning outcomes:
At the end of the lesson, students should be
able:
(a) To define polynomials, and state the
degree of a polynomial and the leading
coefficient.
(b) To recognize monomials, binomials and
trinomials.
(c) To perform addition, subtraction and
multiplication of polynomials.
(d) To perform division of polynomials and
write the answer in the form
P(x)=Q(x)D(x)+R(x), where the divisor
can be linear or quadratic.
 Introduction
Basic functions:
f ( x )  b (Constant function)
f ( x )  ax  b , a  0 (Linear function)
f ( x )  ax  bx  c , a  0 (Quadratic function)
2

f ( x )  ax  bx  cx  d , a  0, (Cubic function)
3 2

All these functions are special cases of the

general class of functions called
Polynomial Functions
Definition
A polynomial P(x) of degree n is defined as
n 1
P ( x )  a n x  a n 1 x
n
 ...  a1 x  a 0 ; an  0
where nZ 

and a0 , a1 , a 2 ,... a n are

called the coefficient of the polynomial.

Note that:

i() The coefficient of the highest power of x,

an , is the leading coefficient .
(ii) The constant term is a0 .
(iii) The degree of the polynomial is
determined by the highest power of x.
Examples of polynomial functions:
Polynomials Deg. Name Leading Const.
coefft. term

P( x)  7 0 const. 0 −7
P( x)  5 x  6 1 linear 5 −6
P( x)  7 x  x
2
2 quadratic 7 0
P( x)  2 x  7 x
3 2
3 cubic 2 3
 x3
P( x)  x  5x  5 4
4
quartic 1 5
Examples of non-polynomial expressions:

1
5
x  4 x,
3
 3x ,
1
x  3x  3
2

x  x 3
1 3 contains
non-positive
power of x.
Monomials, Binomials And Trinomials

Polynomials with one, two and three terms

are called monomials, binomials and
trinomials, respectively.

Example Name Example

3
Monomial x
Binomial 3x  2 x
3

Trinomial 7 x 3  2 x 2  1
 Algebraic Operations

+ − × ÷
Laws of
Numbers

commutative associative distributive

 Addition and subtraction
The addition and subtraction of the polynomial
P (x) and Q (x)
can be performed by collecting like terms.
(similar terms)
Example

Given P ( x )  2 x  5 x  4 and
4 3

Q ( x )  x  x  3 x  4 x.
4 3 2

Determine
(a) P(x) + Q(x)
(b) P(x) − Q(x)
Solution

(a) P ( x )  Q ( x )
 ( 2 x  5 x  4 )  (x  x  3 x  4 x )
4 3 4 3 2

 3x  4 x  3x  4 x  4
4 3 2

(b) P ( x)  Q ( x)
 ( 2 x  5 x  4)  ( x  x  3 x  4 x )
4 3 4 3 2

 x  6 x  3x  4 x  4
4 3 2
 Multiplication

Every term in one polynomial is multiplied

by each term in the other polynomial.
Example

Given P ( x)  x  x  1
2
and
Q ( x)  2 x  x  1 .
3 2

Determine
(a) 4Q(x)

(b) P(x)Q(x)
Solution

( a ) 4Q ( x )  4 ( 2 x  x  1)
3 2

 8x  4x  4
3 2

( b ) P ( x )Q ( x )  ( x  x  1)( 2 x  x  1)
2 3 2

 2 x  3x  x  2 x  x  1
5 4 3 2
Note that:

If P(x) is a polynomial
of degree m
and
Q(x) is a polynomial
of degree n,
Then
product P(x)Q(x) is
a polynomial of
degree (m + n)
 Division
The division of the polynomial can be
expressed in the form
P ( x )  D ( x )Q ( x )  R ( x )
where
D(x) Divisor Q(x) Quotient
R(x) Remainder
 Long Division
Remainder

35 1
 17  17
2 2 2 35
34
Quotient Divisor 1

Hence, 35  (17 )( 2 )  1
Example

Divide 2 x  3 x  6 by x  1
2
Solution 2x 1
x  1 2 x  3x  6
2

2x  2x
2

x6
x 1
7
2 x  3x  6
2
7
 2x  1 
x 1 x 1
2 x  3 x  6  ( 2 x  1)( x  1)  7
2
Example

Determine 3x  4 x  x  7
3 2

3x  4
by using long division.

Answer
Solution x 2  1/ 3
3x  4 3x  4 x  x  7
3 2

3x  4 x
3 2

x7
x 4/3
25 / 3
3x  4 x  x  7
3 2
25 / 3
 ( x  1 / 3) 
2

3x  4 3x  4
3x  4 x  x  7  ( x  1/3)(3x  4)  (25/3)
3 2 2
Example

Determine x x x6
4 3

( x  1)( x  3)
Solution
x 2  3x  9
x  4x  3 x  x  0x  x  6
2 4 3 2

x 4  4 x 3  3x 2
 3x 3  3x 2  x  6
 3x  12 x  9 x
3 2

9 x 2  10 x  6
(-) 9 x  36 x  27
2

 26 x  21

x  x  x  6  ( x  3x  9)( x  1)( x  3)  (26 x  21)

4 3 2