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Absolute Values
Solving Two-Step Equations Algebraically
Multiplying Monomials
Factoring Trinomials
Solving Quadratic Equations
Power Functions and Transformations
Composition of Functions
Rational Inequalities
Equations of Lines
Graphing Logarithmic Functions
Elimination Using Multiplication
Multiplying Large Numbers
Multiplying by 11
Graphing Absolute Value Inequalities
Polynomials
The Discriminant
Reducing Numerical Fractions to Simplest Form
Addition of Algebraic Fractions
Graphing Inequalities in Two Variables
Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions with Unlike Denominators
Multiplying Binomials
Graphing Linear Inequalities
Properties of Numbers and Definitions
Factoring Trinomials
Relatively Prime Numbers
Point
Inequalities
Rotating a Hyperbola
Writing Algebraic Expressions
Quadratic and Power Inequalities
Solving Quadratic Equations by Completing the Square
BEDMAS & Fractions
Solving Absolute Value Equations
Writing Linear Equations in Slope-Intercept Form
Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions with Different Denominators
Reducing Rational Expressions
Solving Absolute Value Equations
Equations of a Line - Slope-intercept form
Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions with Unlike Denominators
Solving Equations with a Fractional Exponent
Simple Trinomials as Products of Binomials
Equivalent Fractions
Multiplying Polynomials
Slope
Graphing Equations in Three Variables
Properties of Exponents
Graphing Linear Inequalities
Solving Cubic Equations by Factoring
Adding and Subtracting Fractions
Multiplying Whole Numbers
Straight Lines
Solving Absolute Value Equations
Solving Nonlinear Equations
Factoring Polynomials by Finding the Greatest Common Factor
Logarithms
Algebraic Expressions Containing Radicals 1
Addition Property of Equality
Three special types of lines
Quadratic Inequalities That Cannot Be Factored
Adding and Subtracting Fractions
Coordinate System
Solving Equations
Factoring Polynomials
Solving Quadratic Equations
Multiplying Radical Expressions
Solving Quadratic Equations Using the Square Root Property
The Slope of a Line
Square Roots
Adding Polynomials
Arithmetic with Positive and Negative Numbers
Solving Equations
Powers and Roots of Complex Numbers
Adding, Subtracting and Finding Least Common Denominators
What the Factored Form of a Quadratic can tell you about the graph
Plotting a Point
Solving Equations with Variables on Each Side
Finding the GCF of a Set of Monomials
Completing the Square
Solving Equations with Radicals and Exponents
Solving Systems of Equations By Substitution
Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
Percents
Laws of Exponents and Dividing Monomials
Factoring Special Quadratic Polynomials
Radicals
Solving Quadratic Equations by Completing the Square
Reducing Numerical Fractions to Simplest Form
Factoring Trinomials
Writing Decimals as Fractions
Using the Rules of Exponents
Evaluating the Quadratic Formula
Rationalizing the Denominator
Multiplication by 429
Writing Linear Equations in Point-Slope Form
Multiplying Radicals
Dividing Polynomials by Monomials
Factoring Trinomials
Introduction to Fractions
Square Roots
   
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Polynomials

Algebraic Expressions: The Building Blocks of Algebra

An algebraic expression is a collection of numerals, letters, grouping symbols, and operators (such as +, -, ·, and ÷).

Here are some examples of algebraic expressions:

The algebraic expression 5x2 - 12 - xy3 has three terms: 5x2, -12, and -xy3

A term in an algebraic expression is a quantity joined to other quantities by the operation of addition or subtraction.

The term -12 is called a constant term because it does not contain a variable. Note that when a term is subtracted, a negative sign is attached to the individual term.

The numeric factor of a term is called the coefficient of the variables of that term.

For example, in the algebraic expression 5x2 - 12 - xy3, the coefficient of x2 is 5 and the coefficient of xy3 is -1.

Note:

In the algebraic expression x2, the coefficient of x2 is 1. x2 = 1x2

 

Polynomials

A polynomial is a special kind of algebraic expression.

In a polynomial, each variable must have a whole number exponent.

Here are some examples of polynomials.

8x + 5 2x3 - wy2 + 7x - 6 24w2y -25

Note:

The polynomial 8x + 5 can be written 8x1 + 5x0.

An algebraic expression is not a polynomial if a variable is in the denominator, inside absolute value bars, or under a radical sign.

For example, these algebraic expressions are not polynomials:

Polynomials with one, two, or three terms have special names.

Name Number of terms Examples    
monomial

binomial

trinomial

1

2

3

x,

x + 7,

x2 - 5x + 7,

9wy2,

6x2 - 5,

-5x3y2 + 6xy - 9

13

4w2y

 10wy3

 

The degree of a term of a polynomial is the sum of the exponents of the variables in that term. For example,

• the degree of 8x2y4 is 6 because 2 + 4 = 6;

• the degree of 43y2 is 2. Note that 4 is not a variable so its exponent, 3, does not affect the degree of the term.

Note:

In the expression 43y2, the exponent 3 does not contribute to the degree of the term. That's because 3 is the exponent of a constant, not a variable.

The degree of a polynomial is equal to the degree of the term with the highest degree.

For example, the degree of 8x2y4 - 5x3y + 43y2 is 6 because the term with the highest degree has degree 6.

Note:

 In 8x2y4 - 5x3y + 43y2, the term with the highest degree is 8x2y4. It has degree 2 + 4 = 6.

 

Example

Find the degree of this polynomial: 13w4y3 + 5wy4 - y2 + 32

Solution

First, find the degree of each term.

The term with the highest degree is 13w4y3. The degree of this term is 7.

Therefore, the degree of the polynomial is 7.

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