Algebraic
Expressions
• Adding and Subtracting
Polynomials
• Multiplying Algebraic
Expressions
• Special Product Formulas
• Factoring Common Factors
• Factoring Trinomials
• Special Factoring Formulas
A variable is a letter that can
represent any number from a
given set of numbers. If we start
with variables, such as x, y, and
z, and some real numbers and
combine them using addition,
subtraction, multiplication,
division, powers, and roots, we
A monomial is an expression
of the form axk , where a is a
real number and k is a
nonnegative integer. A
binomial is a sum of two
monomials and a trinomial is a
sum of three monomials. In
1. Adding and Subtracting
Polynomials
We add and subtract polynomials
using the properties of real
numbers that were discussed in
Chapter 1. The idea is to combine
like terms (that is, terms with the
same variables raised to the
same powers) using the
1. Adding and Subtracting
Polynomials
In subtracting polynomials, we
have to remember that if a
minus sign precedes an
expression in parentheses, then
the sign of every term within the
parentheses is changed when we
remove the parentheses.
Find the sum:
( 𝑥 −6 𝑥 + 2 𝑥 + 4)+ ( 𝑥 + 5 𝑥 −7 𝑥 )
3 2 3 2
Find the difference:
( 𝑥 − 6 𝑥 + 2 𝑥 + 4 ) − ( 𝑥 +5 𝑥 − 7 𝑥 )
3 2 3 2
2. Multiplying Algebraic
Expressions
To find the product of polynomials or
other algebraic expressions, we
need to use the Distributive
Property repeatedly. In particular,
using it three times on the product
of two binomials, we get:
2. Multiplying Algebraic
Expressions
This says that we multiply the two
factors by multiplying each term in
one factor by each term in the other
factor and adding these products.
Schematically, we have
Find the product:
( 2 𝑥+3 ) ( 𝑥 − 5 𝑥+ 4 )
2
2. Multiplying Algebraic
Expressions
When we multiply trinomials or
other polynomials with more terms,
we use the
Distributive Property. It is also
helpful to arrange our work in table
form.
2. Multiplying Algebraic
Expressions
In general, we can multiply two
algebraic expressions by using the
Distributive Property and the Laws
of Exponents.
3. Special Product Formulas
Find the product:
( 2 𝑥 − √ 𝑦 ) ( 2 𝑥+ √ 𝑦 )
( 𝑥+ 𝑦 −1 ) ( 𝑥 + 𝑦 +1 )
2
( 3 𝑥+ 5)
3
( 𝑥 +5 )
2
4. Factoring Common Factors
we use the Distributive
Property to expand algebraic
expressions. We sometimes
need to reverse this process
(again using the Distributive
Property) by factoring an
4. Factoring Common Factors
The easiest type of factoring occurs when the
terms have a common factor.
Factor each expression:
2
3 𝑥 −6𝑥
4 2 3 3 4
8 𝑥 𝑦 + 6 𝑥 𝑦 − 2 𝑥𝑦
( 2 𝑥+ 4 )( 𝑥 − 3 ) −5 ( 𝑥 −3 )
5. Factoring Trinomials
To factor a trinomial of the form
2
𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥+ 𝑐
We note that
2
( 𝑥+ 𝑟 ) ( 𝑥 + 𝑠 ) = 𝑥 + ( 𝑟 + 𝑠 ) 𝑥 +𝑟𝑠
So we need to choose numbers r and s
so that r + s = b and rs = c
Factor:
2
𝑥 −2 𝑥 − 3
2
6 𝑥 +7 𝑥 −5
2
( 5 𝑎 +1 ) − 2 ( 5 𝑎+ 1 ) − 3
6. SPECIAL Factoring FORMULAs
Factor each expression:
2
4 𝑥 −25
2 2
( 𝑥+ 𝑦 ) − 𝑧
Factor each trinomials:
2
𝑥 + 6 𝑥+ 9
2 2
4 𝑥 − 4 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦
Factor each polynomials:
3
27 𝑥 − 1
6
𝑥 +8
Factor each expression:
4 2
2 𝑥 −8 𝑥
5 2 6
𝑥 𝑦 −𝑥 𝑦
7. Factoring by Grouping Terms
Polynomials with at least four
terms can sometimes be
factored by grouping terms.
The following example
illustrates the idea.
Factor each polynomial
3 2
𝑥 + 𝑥 + 4 𝑥+ 4
3 2
𝑥 − 2 𝑥 − 9 𝑥 +18