Introduction of Polynomials

Polynomials are algebraic expressions that include real numbers and variables. Division and square roots cannot be involved in the variables. The variables can only include addition, subtraction and multiplication.

Let x be a variable, n be a positive integer and a₀, a₁,a₂... ,a_n be constants. Then,
f(x) = a_nx ⁿ + a_n-1x^n-1+ ... + a₁x + a₀ is called a Poly-nomial in variable x.

Here, a_nx ⁿ, a_n-1x^n-1, ... , a₁x, a₀ are known as terms
and a_n, a_n-1, ..., a₁,a₀ are coefficients.

Examples

1) p(x) = 3x -2 -----> polynomial in variable x.

2) q(y) = 3y² - 2y + 4 ------> is a poly-nomial in y.

3) f(u)= 1/2 u³ - 3u² + 2u - 4 ----> is a poly-nomial in variable u.

Not a Poly-nomial : If the exponent of any term is less than 1 or negative.

Examples :

1) 2x² - 3√x + 5

Solution :
It is not a poly-nomial because the exponent of one term is 1/2 which is less than 1.

2) 1/(x² - 2x + 5)

Solution :
It is not a poly-nomial because the exponent is negative.

3) 2x³ - 3/x + 4

Solution :
As the exponent of 2nd term is -1 so it is not a poly-nomial.
_________________________________________________________________
Practice
Q.1 Write any poly-nomial in x with degree 3.
Q.2 P(x) = x³ + 2³ - 4x + 8. Write the coefficient of x².
Q.3 In P(x) = 5x² + x⁵ - 2x + 4 write the degree of poly-nomial.
Q.4 In P(x) = 1/2 x³ - 7x² + 8x, state the number of terms and write each terms.

Polynomials

• Degree of the Poly-nomial
• Zeros of Poly-nomial
• Remainder Theorem
• Find remainder by Synthetic Division
• Rational root test in Poly-nomial
• Solved Examples on Factorization

Home Page