POLYNOMIALS
1. Polynomial : An algebraic expression in the form
a0xn + a1xn-1 + a2xn-2 + a3xn-3 +……. +an-1x + an ,
Where ‘n’ is a non-negative integer (whole number)
‘x’ is called variable of the polynomial:
a0, a1, a2, a3, ………an-1, an are the constants, called the coefficient of
xn, xn-1, xn-2,……x , x0 respectively in the polynomial.
‘an’ is called the constant tearm.
A polynomial is usually denoted by f(x), g(x), p(x), q(x), h(x), etc
2. Not a polynomial : If it includes variable in the denominator, negative exponents, Fractional
exponents/Radicals, variable as exponents/ trigonometric function are not polynomials.
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Ex: , y-3 + 4y – 1 , 𝑥 + 3, 2𝑥 , sin(x).
𝑥
3. Degree of a polynomial: The degree of a polynomial p(x) in x is the highest power of x in p(x).
Ex : The Degrees of the polynomials in x
1) x4 + 3x3 + 2x Degree → 4
2) x3 + 1a Degree → 3
3) x2 + 5x –6 Degree → 2
Note: Degree = zeros/roots/solutions
4. TYPES OF POLYNOMIALS
i. Constant Polynomials: It is a polynomial with degree zero (0).
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* Ex : -5 , , 7, π e)tc.
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A constant polynomial has no zeroes.
ii. Linear polynomial: A polynomial of the form ax + b, a ≠ 0 is called linear polynomial.
* Its degree is 1
* Ex: 2x +3, 3y – 4
* Maximum number of zeroes = 1
𝑏 − 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚
*k=-𝑎 i,e k=
𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑥
* we can see that straight line y - x = 2 cuts the x-axis at one point
Only i,e A(-2, 0). Hence the linear polynomial y - x = 2
has exactly one zero
Note : A linear polynomial ax + b, a ≠ 0, the graph of y = ax + b is a straight line which intersects
𝑏
the x-axis at exactly one point, namely (- 𝑎 , 0 )
iii. Quadratic polynomial : A polynomial of the form ax2 + bx+c, a ≠ 0 is called quadratic polynomial.
* Its degree is 2
* Ex: x2 + 2x +6, 5y2 =10.
* Maximum number of zeroes = 2 ( Either two distinct zeroes or Two equal zeroes or no zeroes)
SATEESHA H S , GOVT ADARSHA VIDYALAYA, MATTIKERE-SHETTIHALLI. Page 1
* α and β are two roots of equation.
Sum of roots (zeroes)
𝑏 − 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖 𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑥
* (α + β) = - =
𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑥2
Product of roots (zeroes)
𝑐 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚
* ( α β) = =
𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑥2
Quadratic Equation = x2 – (sum of the roots)x + product of roots.
Quadratic Equation = x2 – (α + β )x + α β
Graph of a quadratic polynomial p(x) = ax2 + bx+c, a ≠ 0 is a parabola that intersect x-axis at
maximum two distinct points.
When a > 0, then parabola open upwards.
When a < 0, then parabola open downwards.
For quadratic polynomial p(x) = ax2 + bx+c, a ≠ 0, b2 – 4ac is called is called its discriminant D.
Discriminant –D determines the nature of roots / zeroes of a quadratic polynomial.
Case 1 : If D > 0 , graph of f(x) = ax2 + bx+c will intersect the x-axis at two distinct points,
x- coordinates of points of intersection with x-axis is known as ‘zeroes’ of f(x).
Case 2 : If D = 0 , graph of f(x) = ax2 + bx+c will touch the x-axis at one point only.
∴ f(x) will have only one ‘zero’ and we can say that roots touch nor intersect the x-axis.
Case 3 : If D < 0 , graph of f(x) = ax2 + bx+c will neither touch nor intersect the x-axis.
∴ f(x) will not any real zero.
SATEESHA H S , GOVT ADARSHA VIDYALAYA, MATTIKERE-SHETTIHALLI. Page 2
iv. Cubic polynomial : A polynomial of the form ax3 + bx2+cx+d, a ≠ 0 is called cubic polynomial.
* Its degree is 3
* x3 + x2 – 2x – 5 , x3 – 27 .
* Maximum number of zeroes = 3
* α, β, & γ are three roots of equation.
Sum of roots (zeroes)
𝑏 − 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑥2
* (α + β + γ) = - 𝑎 =
𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑥3
Product of sum of zeroes taken two at a time.
𝑐 − 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑥
* (α β + β γ + γ α) = =
𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑥3
Product of roots(zeroes)
𝑐 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚
* ( α β γ) = =
𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑥2
→ Zeroes of cubic polynomials :
* All three zeroes might be real and distinct.
* All three zeroes might be real and two of them might be equal.
* All three zeroes might be real and equal.
* One zero must be real and other two non-real (complex).
Note : in general, given a polynomial p(x) of degree n, the graph of y = p(x) intersect the x-axis at
most n points.
∴ A polynomial p(x) of degree n has at most n zeroes.
v. Biquadratic polynomial : A polynomial of the form ax4 + bx3+cx2+dx+e, a ≠ 0 is called biquadratic
polynomial.
* Its degree is 3
Ex: x4 + 3x3 + 2x – 6.
5. Zeros of a polynomial: The value of x for which p(x) = 0.
If p(a) = 0, then a is a zero of p(x)
SATEESHA H S , GOVT ADARSHA VIDYALAYA, MATTIKERE-SHETTIHALLI. Page 3
Algebric Identities
* Basic square identities
(a + b)2 = a2 + 2ab + b2
(a - b)2 = a2 - 2ab + b2
(a + b) (a - b) = a2 – b2
* Product of two binomials
(x + a) (x + b) = x2 + (a + b)x +ab
(x - a) (x - b) = x2 – (a + b)x +ab
(x + a) (x - a) = x2 – a2
* Square of three Terms.
(a+b+c)2 = a2 + b2+ c2+2ab+2bc+2ca
* Cube of a binomial
(a + b)3 = a3 + 3a2b + 3ab2 + b3
a3 + 3ab (a+b) + b3
(a – b)3 = a3 – 3a2b + 3ab2 – b3
a3 - 3ab (a+b) - b3
* Sum and difference of cubes
a3 + b3 = (a + b) (a2 – ab + b2)
a3 - b3 = (a - b) (a2 + ab + b2)
* Cube of three terms
( a + b + c)3 = a3 +b3+c3+3(a+b)(b+c)(c+a)
* Important condition based on identity
If a+b+c = 0 then a3 + b3 + c3 = 3abc
* Some identities.
x3 + y3 + z3 – 3xyz = (x +y+z) (x2 + y2 + z2 –xy –yz –zx )
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x3 + y3 + z3 – 3xyz = (x +y+z) [(x-y)2 + (y-z)2 + (z-x)2]
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SATEESHA H S , GOVT ADARSHA VIDYALAYA, MATTIKERE-SHETTIHALLI. Page 4