Simplifying, Adding, and Subtracting Polynomials

• The root poly means many: polygon-many sides is another example we have seen.

• A polynomial is a mathematical expression with many terms

This isn't too important to memorize, but we will use some of this vocabulary such as binomial and trinomial in the future.

The degree is the highest exponent in the polynomial.

• Step 1: Distribute the "1s" to eliminate the parentheses.

• Step 2: Combine like terms

• Since the number in front of both sets of parentheses is 1, this eliminates the parentheses

• -7.1x²-180x+5800+21x²-140x+1900

• Combine like terms

• 13.9x²-320x+7700

• Step 1: Notice there is a -1 in front of the 2nd set of parentheses. This changes the signs of the second polynomial.

• x³-3x²+5x-7x³-5x²+12

• Step 2: Combine Like Terms

• -6x³-8x²+5x+12