CLASS 10th
MATHEMATICS
Short Note
Chapter 2 − POLYNOMIALS
➢ Polynomials: A polynomial is an expression consisting of constants, variables and exponents. Its
mathematical form is-
f (x) = anxn + an−1xn−1 + …+a1x + a0 , an 0is called a polynomial in variable x.
where x: variable
a: Real number
n: whole number
For example:
P(x) = 3x −2 is a polynomial in variable x.
Degree of a Polynomial: The highest power of x in a polynomial f(x) is called the degree of the
polynomial f(x)
➢ Following are forms of various degree polynomials:
Degree Name of the polynomial Form of the polynomial
0 Constant polynomial f(x) = a, a is a constant
1 Linear polynomial f(x) = ax + b, a 0
2 Quadratic polynomial f(x) = ax2 + bx + c, a 0
3 Cubic polynomial f(x) = ax3 + bx2 + cx + d, a 0
4 Biquadratic polynomial f(x) = ax4 + bx3 + cx2 + dx + e, a 0
➢ Value of Polynomial: Let p(y) is a polynomial in y and α could be any real number, then the value calculated
after putting the value y = α in p(y) is the final value of p(y) at y = α. This shows that p(y) at y = α is represented
by p (α).
➢ Zero of a Polynomial: If the value of p(y) at y = k is 0, that is p (k) = 0 then y = k will be the zero of that
polynomial p(y).
➢ Geometrical meaning of the Zeroes of a Polynomial: Zeroes of the polynomials are the x coordinates of
the points where the graph of that polynomial intersects the x-axis.
➢ Graph of a Linear Polynomial:
Graph of a linear polynomial is a straight line which intersects the x-axis at one point only, so a linear polynomial
has degree 1.
Graph of Quadratic Polynomial:
Case 1: When the graph cuts the x-axis at the two points then these two points are the two zeroes of that
quadratic polynomial.
Case 2: When the graph touches the x-axis at only one point then that particular point is the zero of that quadratic
polynomial and the equation is in the form of a perfect square.
Case 3: When the graph does not intersect the x-axis at any point i.e. the graph is either
completely above the x-axis or below the x-axis then that quadratic polynomial has no zero as it
is not intersecting the x-axis at any point.
Hence the quadratic polynomial can have either two zeroes, one zero or no zero. Or you can say that it can have
maximum two zero only.
Relationship between Zeroes and Coefficients of a Polynomial:
➢ If and are the zeros of a quadratic polynomial f(x) = ax2 + bx + c, a 0
𝑏 Coefficient of x
+ = −𝑎 = −
Coefficient of x2
𝑐 Constant term
= 𝑎 =
Coefficient of x 2
➢ If , , are the zeros of a cubic polynomial f(x) = ax3 + bx2 + cx + d, a 0
𝑏 Coefficient of x 2
+ + = −𝑎 = −
Coefficient of x3
𝑐 Coefficient of 𝑥
+ + = 𝑎 = Coefficient of 𝑥3
𝑑 Constant term
= − = −
𝑎
Coefficient of x3
➢ If , , , are the zeros of a biquadratic polynomial f(x) = ax4 + bx3 + cx2 + dx + e, a 0
𝑏 Coefficient of 𝑥 3
+ + + = − 𝑎 = - Coefficient of 𝑥4
𝑐 Coefficient of x2
( + ) ( + ) + + = 𝑎 =
Coefficient of x4
𝑑 Coefficient of 𝑥
( + ) + ( + ) = − = −
𝑎 Coefficient of 𝑥 4
𝑒 Constant terms
= 𝑎 =
Coefficient of x 4
REMARKS:
➢ If and are the zeros of a quadratic polynomial f(x). Then, the polynomial f(x) is given by
f(x) = k {x2 − ( + ) x + }
or,
f(x) = k {x2 − (Sum of the zeros) x + Product of the zeros}, where k is any non-zero real number.
➢ It follows from the above discussion that a cubic polynomial having , and as its zeros is given by
f(x) = k (x − ) (x − ) (x − )
or,
f(x) = k {x3 − ( + + ) x2 + ( + + ) x − }, where k is any non-zero real number.
Division Algorithm for Polynomial
If f(x) and g(x) are any two polynomials with g(x) ≠ 0, then we can find polynomials q(x) and r(x) such
that
f(x) = g(x) × q(x) + r(x), r(x) = 0 or degree of r(x) < degree of g(x).
where,
f(x) is the dividend
g(x) is the divisor
q(x) is the quotient
r(x) is the remainder
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