Polynomials and Polynomial Functions

Definitions
Term: a number or a product of a number and variables raised
to a power.
3, 5x , 2 x, 9 x y
2 2

Coefficient: the numerical factor of each term.

5 x 2 , 2 x, 9 x 2 y
Constant: the term without a variable.
3, 6, 5, 32
Polynomial: a finite sum of terms of the form axn, where a is a
real number and n is a whole number.
15 x 2 x 5
3 2 21y 6 7 y5 2 y3 6 y
Remember integers are 2, -1, 0, 1, 2 (no decimals
or fractions) so positive integers would be 0, 1, 2

A polynomial function is a function of the form:

n must be a positive integer

f x an x an 1 x
n n 1
a1 x ao

All of these coefficients are real numbers

The degree of the polynomial is the largest

power on any x term in the polynomial.
 Polynomials and Polynomial Functions
Practice Problems
Identify the degrees of each term and the degree of the
polynomial.

5x 4 x 5x
3 2

3 2 1 6 8 3 0
3 8

9 10 6 2
10
Determine which of the following are polynomial
functions. If the function is a polynomial, state its
degree.
f x 2 x x
4
A polynomial of degree 4.
We can write in an x0 since this = 1.

g x 2 x 0 A polynomial of degree 0.

Not a polynomial because of the

h x 2 x 1
square root since the power is NOT
an integer 1
x x2
F x x
3 2 Not a polynomial because of the x in
the denominator since the power is
x 1 1
negative
x
x
Polynomials and Polynomial Functions
Practice Problems
Evaluate each polynomial function
f x 3x 2 10 f 1

3 1 10 3 1 10 3 10 7
2

g y 6 y 2 11y 20 g 3

6 3 11 3 20 6 9 33 20
2

54 33 20 87 20 67
Practice Problems
Adding and Subtracting
Polynomials

The sum or difference

 Just as you can perform operations on integers, you can
perform operations on polynomials. You can add
polynomials using two methods. Which one will you choose?

Closure of polynomials under addition or subtraction

The sum of two polynomials is a polynomial.

The difference of two polynomials is a polynomial.

 Addition of Polynomials
You can rewrite each polynomial, inserting
a zero placeholder for the missing term.

Method 1 (vertically)
Line up like terms. Then add the coefficients.
4x2 + 6x + 7 -2x3 + 2x2 5x + 3
2x2 9x + 1 0 + 5x2 + 4x - 5
6x2 3x + 8 -2x3 + 7x2 x - 2
Method 2 (horizontally)
Group like terms. Then add the coefficients.
(4x2 + 6x + 7) + (2x2 9x + 1) = (4x2 + 2x2) + (6x 9x) + (7 + 1)
= 6x2 3x + 8
Example 2:
(-2x3 + 0) + (2x2 + 5x2) + (-5x + 4x) + (3 5)

Example 2
Use a zero placeholder
Simplify each sum and find the coefficient of
given term in the bracket

Remember
Use a zero as a placeholder for the
missing term.

Word Problem
Polynomials and Polynomial Functions
Multiplication
Multiplying Monomials by Monomials
Examples:

10x 9x 90x 2

8 x 11x
3 7 10
88x

5x 4
x 5x 5
Polynomials and Polynomial Functions
Multiplication
Multiplying Monomials by Polynomials
Examples:

4 x x 4 x 3 4x 16x 12x
2 3 2

8 x 7 x 1 56x5 8x
4

5x 3x
3 2
x 2 15x 5 5x 410x 3
 Polynomials and Polynomial Functions
Multiplication
Multiplying Two Polynomials
Examples:

x 5 x 10 x 3
2
x 3
10x 2
3x 5x 2
50x 15
x 3 15x 2 47x 15

x 5 3x 4
4 x 2

12x 3 16x 23x 24x 15x 20

12x 13x 11x 20
3 2
 Graphs of polynomials are smooth and continuous.

No sharp corners or cusps No gaps or holes, can be drawn

without lifting pencil from paper

This IS the graph This IS NOT the graph

of a polynomial of a polynomial
 Lets look at the graph of f x x n
where n is an
even integer.
g x x 4 hx x 6

and grows
f x x 2
steeper on either
side

Notice each graph

looks similar to x2 The higher the
but is wider and power, the flatter
flatter near the and steeper
origin between 1
and 1
 Lets look at the graph of f x x n
where n is an odd
integer.

Notice each graph and grows

looks similar to x3 steeper on
but is wider and either side
flatter near the g x x 5
origin between 1
hx x 7
and 1

f x x 3
The higher the
power, the flatter
and steeper
Lets graph f x x 2
4