Algebra 1 : Polynomial Operations

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Algebra 1

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Example Questions

Example Question #141 : Variables

Subtract the polynomials   and 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Set up an expression and enclose both polynomials with parentheses.

Remove the parentheses and distribute the negative sign through each term in the second polynomial.

Combine like-terms.

The answer is:  

Example Question #35 : How To Subtract Polynomials

Translate and simplify:

The sum of

and

subtracted from

.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Sum the first two expressions:

 

Subtract the sum from to get:

By combining like terms we get:

Example Question #11 : Polynomials

Simplify the following expression:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This is not a FOIL problem, as we are adding rather than multiplying the terms in parentheses.

Add like terms together:

has no like terms.

Combine these terms into one expression to find the answer:

Example Question #1 : How To Add Polynomials

Subtract from .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Subtract the first expression from the second to get the following:

This is equal to:

Combine like terrms:

Example Question #141 : Variables

Simplify the following: 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Example Question #1 : Simplifying Expressions

Simplify x(4 – x) – x(3 – x).

Possible Answers:

0

3x

x

1

x2

Correct answer:

x

Explanation:

You must multiply out the first set of parenthesis (distribute) and you get 4x – x2. Then multiply out the second set and you get –3x + x2. Combine like terms and you get x.

x(4 – x) – x(3 – x)

4x – x2 – x(3 – x)

4x – x2 – (3x – x2)

4x – x2 – 3x + x2 = x

Example Question #1 : Simplifying Polynomials

Simplify the following expression.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This is not a FOIL problem, as we are adding rather than multiplying the terms in parenteses.

Add like terms to solve.

Combining these terms into an expression gives us our answer.

Example Question #11 : Simplifying Expressions

Simplify the expression.

Possible Answers:

None of the other answers are correct.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

When simplifying polynomials, only combine the variables with like terms.

can be added to , giving

can be subtracted from  to give .

Combine both of the terms into one expression to find the answer:

Example Question #12 : Simplifying Expressions

Simplify the following expression.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This is not a FOIL problem, as we are adding rather than multiplying the terms in parentheses.

Add like terms to solve.

 and  have no like terms and cannot be combined with anything.

5 and -5 can be combined however:

This leaves us with .

Example Question #6 : How To Add Polynomials

Find the LCM of the following polynomials:

 

, ,

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

LCM of

LCM of 

and since

The LCM 

 

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