CHAPTER
2 Polynomials
1. Polynomial : If x is a variable, n is a natural number and a0, a1, a2, a3, ……….
an are real numbers, then p(x) = an xn + an–1 xn–1 + ...........+ a1 x + a0, (an s 0) is
called a polynomial in x.
Expressions that include variables with non-negative integer exponents, such as
3x2+2x-5
2. Types of Polynomials:
Constant Polynomial: Contains no variables, only a constant (e.g., 5, 7, 10).
Linear Polynomial: Has a variable raised to the power of 1 (e.g., x + 2 or 3x + 5).
Quadratic Polynomial: Contains a variable raised to the power of 2 (e.g. x2+2x+1)
Cubic Polynomial: Contains a variable raised to the power of 3 (e.g x3-3x2+2)
3. Degree of a Polynomial: The highest power of the variable in a polynomial. For
example, x3 + 3x + 1 has a degree of 3.
4. Polynomials of degree 1, 2 and 3 are called linear, quadratic and cubic polynomials
respectively.
5. A quadratic polynomial is an algebraic expression of the form ax2 + bx + c, where a,
b, c are real numbers with a s 0.
6. Zeros of a polynomial p(x) are precisely the x – coordinates of the points where the
graph of y = p(x) intersects the x–axis, i.e., x = a is a zero of polynomial p(x) if p(a) = 0
7. A polynomial can have at most the same number of zeros as the degree of the
polynomial.
8. (i) If one zero of a quadratic polynomial p(x) is negative of the other, then
coefficient of x is 0.
(ii) If zeroes of a quadratic polynomial p(x) are reciprocal of each other, then
coefficient of x2 = constant term.
9. Relationship between zeros and coefficients of a polynomial
For Quadratic Polynomial:
If α and β are zeros of p(x) = ax2 + bx + c (a s 0), then
−coefficient of x −b
Sum of zeros = α + β= =
coefficient of 𝑥 2 𝑎
constant term c
Product of zeros = αβ =
coefficient of 𝑥 2 = 𝑎
For Cubic Polynomial
If α,β and γ are the roots of a cubic polynomial ax3+bx2+cx+d, then
−coefficient of 𝑥 2
α+β+γ = -b/a =
coefficient of 𝑥 3
−coefficient of x
αβ +βγ +γα = c/a=
coefficient of 𝑥 3
constant term
αβγ = -d/a=
coefficient of 𝑥 3
If α, β are zeros of a quadratic polynomial p(x), then
p(x) = k [x2 – (sum of zeros) x + product of zeros]
p(x) = k [x2 – (α + β)x + αβ ]; where k is any non-zero real number.
Geometrical Meaning of Zeros of a Polynomial
Geometrically, zeros of a polynomial are the points where its graph cuts the x-axis.
• Linear Polynomial : The graph of a linear polynomial ax + b is a straight line,
intersecting x-axis at one point.
• Quadratic Polynomial:
(i) Graph of a quadratic polynomial p(x) = ax2 + bx + c is a parabola open upwards
like U, if a > 0 and intersect x-axis at maximum two distinct points.
y
x x
0
y'
(ii) Graph of a quodratic polynomial p(x) = ax2 + bx + c is a parabola open
downwards like , if a < 0 and intersect x-axis at maximum two distinct
points.
y
x' x
0
(iii) Polynomial and its graph : In general a polynomial p(x) of degree n crosses
the x-axis at most n points.
y
x' x
0
y'