Math 108 T3-Operations with Polynomials
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MATH 108 REVIEW TOPIC 3 Operations with Polynomials I. The term polynomial is used to describe any sum of terms provided all coecients are real and all exponents are positive integers. Illustration. Polynomials 3x4 2x2 + 5x 11 2 2x 4x x3 y 2xy 2 + y 3 Not Polynomials 4x2 2x3 x+5 3x4 4 2x + 5
Here are some examples of basic polynomial operations. Ex. 1: 2x(3x2 4y) = 6x3 8xy 2 3x(x2 2x + 5) (x3 4x 5) = 3x3 6x2 + 15x x3 + 4x + 5 = 2x3 6x2 + 19x + 5 (x 2)(x2 + 2x + 4) = x(x2 + 2x + 4) 2(x2 + 2x 4) = x3 + 2x2 + 4x 2x2 4x + 8 = x3 + 8 Distributive Property: a(b + c) = ab + ac
Ex. 2:
Subtraction
Ex. 3:
Similar to Ex. 1, Distribute x and 2
Note: Review Topic 4 deals with factoring, the undoing of multiplication. Because (x 2) and (x2 + 2x + 4) multiply to become x3 + 8, x3 + 8 factors into (x 2)(x2 + 2x + 4). Understanding multiplication patterns is the rst step in learning to factor.
Math 108 T3-Operations with Polynomials
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II.
Long Division Dividing two polynomials is very much like dividing two integers. Compare the following: Divide 157 by 11 14 11 157 11 47 44 3 Ans: 14 + 3 3 = 14 11 11 Divide 2x2 5x 7 by x 3 2x + 1 2 x 3 2x 5x 7 2x2 6x x 7 x 3 4 Ans: 2x + 1 + 4 x3
Do you see any real dierence in these? Hopefully not. Exercise 1: Divide x4 2x + 5 by x + 2. If the missing terms in the dividend create alignment problems, blanks may be helpful. x + 2 x4 + x3 + x2 2x + 5
Answer
III.
Products of Binomials Well start with 3 examples. Pay close attention to outer and inner products and how they determine the middle term of the result. Ex. 1: (2x 3)(x + 5) = 2x2 + (10x 3x) 15 = 2x2 + 7x 15 Ex. 2: (2x 3)2 = (2x)2 + (6x 6x) + (3)2 = 4x2 12x + 9 Ex. 3: (2x 3)(2x + 3) = 4x2 + (6x 6x) 9 = 4x2 9 Here are a few comments: Ex. 1. The nal result is a trinomial. Summing the outer and inner products yields the middle term.
twice 6x
Math 108 T3-Operations with Polynomials
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Ex. 2. Squaring a binomial also yields 3 terms. Identical outer and inner products create a middle term twice as big. (a b)2 = a2 2ab + b2 Common error: (3x)2 = 9x2 but (3 + x)2 = 9 + x2
Remember (3 + x)2 = 32 + twice 3x + x2 = 9 + 6x + x2. Ex. 3. Binomials of the type (a + b) and (a b) are referred to as conjugate pairs. The product of these pairs must be a binomial (no middle term) since the sum of the outers and inners is 0. ab (a + b)(a b) = a2 b2
ab
Comments: Once you have thought this through (particularly what determines the middle term) you will be able to write down answers WITHOUT any additional steps. Exercise 2: Find the following products by inspection (no steps). a) (3x 4)(2x + 7) b) (3x2 + 4)(2x2 7) c) (2x + 7y)(2x 7y) IV. Polynomials Mixed Operations Assessment: Perform the indicated operations. a) (3x 4)(x + 5) (2x 3)2 b) (3x 4)3 c) (x 2)2(x + 2)2
Answers
(d) (2x 7y)2 (e) (x3 1)2 (f) (2x 5)2
Answers
Math 108 T3-Answers Operations with Polynomials
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PRACTICE PROBLEMS for Topic 3 Perform the indicated operation. 3.1. (2x 3)(x + 4)(x 4) 3.2. 6x5 + 3x4 4x3 2x2 + 2x + 4 divided by 2x + 1 3.3. (x y z)(x y + z)
Answers
ANSWERS to PRACTICE PROBLEMS (Topic 3Operations with Polynomials) 3.1. (2x 3)(x2 16) = 2x3 3x2 32x + 48 You get the same result from nding the product of (2x 3)(x + 4) and then multiplying by (x 4). Multiplication is both commutative and associative: abc = a(bc) = (ab)c = (ac)b . . . Thus any arrangement of factors gives the same result. 3.2. 3x4 2x2 + 1 + 3 2x + 1 Can you check? Is (2x+1)(3x4 2x2 +1)+3 = 6x5 +3x4 4x3 2x2 +2x+4?
3.3. Looking for a shortcut? Group into [(x y) z][(x y) + z]. Then let a = x y and b = z and multiply as conjugates. (a b)(a + b) = a2 b2 [(x y) z][(x y) + z] = [(x y)2 z 2 ] = x2 2xy + y 2 z 2 Beginning of Topic 108 Skills Assessment
Math 108 Exercise 1 Topic 3
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Divide x4 2x + 5 by x + 2. Answer: x3 2x2 + 4x 10 +
Return to Review Topic
25 x+2
Math 108 Exercise 2 Topic 3
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Find the following products by inspection (no steps). a) (3x 4)(2x + 7) b) (3x2 + 4)(2x2 7) c) (2x + 7y)(2x 7y) Answers a) 6x2 + 13x 28 b) 6x4 13x2 28 c) (2x)2 (7y)2 = 4x2 49y 2 d) (2x)2 twice (2x)(7y) + (7y)2 = 4x2 28xy + 49y 2 e) x6 2x3 + 1 f) (4x2 20x + 25) = 4x2 + 20x 25 Negation comes after squaring.
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(d) (2x 7y)2 (e) (x3 1)2 (f) (2x 5)2
Math 108 Assessment Topic 3
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Perform the indicated operations. a) (3x 4)(x + 5) (2x 3)2 (b) (3x 4)3 (c) (x 2)2(x + 2)2
Answers a) 3x2 + 11x 20 (4x2 12x + 9) = x2 + 23x 29 b) Common error (3x 4y)3 = (3x)3 (4y)3
Subtraction follows squaring.
(3x 4y)3 = (9x2 24xy + 16y 2)(3x 4y)
(3x 4y)2
= 27x3 108x2y + 144xy 2 64y 3 Alternate Method: If you have experience with binomial expansion (integral powers of a binomial), you may know (a + b)3 = a3 + 3a2 b + 3ab2 + b3. Then let a = 3x and b = 4y and SUBSTITUTE. Ans: (3x 4y)3 = (3x)3 + 3(3x)2(4y) + 3(3x)(4y)2 + (4y)3 = 27x3 108x2y + 144xy 2 64y 3. If you are intrigued by this and want to explore it further, see Sec. 13.5 in the current text, Algebra & Trigonometry by M. Sullivan. c) (x 2)2(x + 2)2 = [(x 2)(x + 2)]2 = (x2 4)2 = x4 8x2 + 16. Isnt this better than squaring each binomial and nding the product of (x2 4x + 4) and (x2 + 4x + 4). Look for shortcuts; there are rules to follow but half the fun is learning how to beat them.
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