Objectives 
Identify, classify, evaluate, 
polynomials. 
Add, and subtract polynomials.
A monomial is a number or a product of numbers 
and variables with whole number exponents. A 
polynomial is a monomial or a sum or difference of 
monomials. Each monomial in a polynomial is a 
term. Because a monomial has only one term, it is 
the simplest type of polynomial. 
Polynomials have no variables in denominators or 
exponents, no roots or absolute values of variables, 
and all variables have whole number exponents. 
Polynomials: 3x4 2z12 + 9z3 1 
2 a7 0.15x101 3t2 – t3 
Not polynomials: 3x |2b3 – 6b| 8 
1 
2 x 
5y2 m0.75 – m 
The degree of a monomial is the sum of the 
exponents of the variables.
Example 1: Identifying the Degree of a Monomial 
Identify the degree of each monomial. 
A. z6 
z6 5.6 = 5.6x0 Identify the 
Identify the 
exponent. 
B. 5.6 
The degree is 6. 
exponent. 
The degree is 0. 
C. 8xy3 
8x1y3 a2b1c3 Add the 
Add the 
exponents. 
D. a2bc3 
The degree is 4. 
exponents. 
The degree is 6.
Check It Out! Example 1 
Identify the degree of each monomial. 
a. x3 
x3 7 = 7x0 Identify the 
Identify the 
exponent. 
b. 7 
The degree is 3. 
exponent. 
The degree is 0. 
c. 5x3y2 
5x3y2 a6b1c2 Add the 
Add the 
exponents. 
d. a6bc2 
The degree is 5. 
exponents. 
The degree is 9.
The degree of a monomial is the sum 
of the exponents of the variables. 
Find the degree of each monomial. 
1) 5x2 
2 
2) 4a4b3c 
8 
3) -3 
0
An degree of a polynomial is given by the 
term with the greatest degree. A polynomial with 
one variable is in standard form when its terms 
are written in descending order by degree. So, in 
standard form, the degree of the first term 
indicates the degree of the polynomial, and the 
leading coefficient is the coefficient of the first 
term.
A polynomial can be classified by its number of 
terms. A polynomial with two terms is called a 
binomial, and a polynomial with three terms is 
called a trinomial. A polynomial can also be 
classified by its degree.
Example 2: Classifying Polynomials 
Rewrite each polynomial in standard form. 
Then identify the leading coefficient, degree, 
and number of terms. Name the polynomial. 
A. 3 – 5x2 + 4x B. 3x2 – 4 + 8x4 
Write terms in 
descending order by 
degree. 
–5x2 + 4x + 3 
Leading coefficient: –5 
Degree: 2 
Terms: 3 
Name: quadratic trinomial 
Write terms in 
descending order by 
degree. 
8x4 + 3x2 – 4 
Leading coefficient: 8 
Degree: 4 
Terms: 3 
Name: quartic trinomial
State whether each 
expression is a polynomial. If 
it is, identify it. 
1) 7y - 3x + 4 
trinomial 
2) 10x3yz2 
monomial 
3) 
not a polynomial 
5 7 
2 
2 
y 
y 
+
A polynomial is normally put in 
ascending or descending order. 
What is ascending order? 
Going from small to big exponents. 
What is descending order? 
Going from big to small exponents.
Put in descending order: 
1) 8x - 3x2 + x4 - 4 
x4 - 3x2 + 8x - 4 
2) Put in descending order in terms of 
x: 
12x2y3 - 6x3y2 + 3y - 2x 
-6x3y2 + 12x2y3 - 2x + 3y
3) Put in ascending order in terms of 
y: 
12x2y3 - 6x3y2 + 3y - 2x 
-2x + 3y - 6x3y2 + 12x2y3 
4) Put in ascending order: 
5a3 - 3 + 2a - a2 
-3 + 2a - a2 + 5a3
Write in ascending order in terms of 
y: 
x4 – x3y2 + 4xy – 2x2y3 
1. x4 + 4xy – x3y2– 2x2y3 
2. – 2x2y3 – x3y2 + 4xy + x4 
3. x4 – x3y2– 2x2y3 + 4xy 
4. 4xy – 2x2y3 – x3y2 + x4
Example 3: Adding and Subtracting Polynomials 
Add or subtract. Write your answer in 
standard form. 
B. (3 – 2x2) – (x2 + 6 – x) 
Add the opposite horizontally. 
(3 – 2x2) – (x2 + 6 – x) 
Write in standard form. 
Group like terms. 
Add. 
(–2x2 + 3) + (–x2 + x – 6) 
(–2x2 – x2) + (x) + (3 – 6) 
–3x2 + x – 3

Identify Polynomials ch14

  • 1.
    Objectives Identify, classify,evaluate, polynomials. Add, and subtract polynomials.
  • 2.
    A monomial isa number or a product of numbers and variables with whole number exponents. A polynomial is a monomial or a sum or difference of monomials. Each monomial in a polynomial is a term. Because a monomial has only one term, it is the simplest type of polynomial. Polynomials have no variables in denominators or exponents, no roots or absolute values of variables, and all variables have whole number exponents. Polynomials: 3x4 2z12 + 9z3 1 2 a7 0.15x101 3t2 – t3 Not polynomials: 3x |2b3 – 6b| 8 1 2 x 5y2 m0.75 – m The degree of a monomial is the sum of the exponents of the variables.
  • 3.
    Example 1: Identifyingthe Degree of a Monomial Identify the degree of each monomial. A. z6 z6 5.6 = 5.6x0 Identify the Identify the exponent. B. 5.6 The degree is 6. exponent. The degree is 0. C. 8xy3 8x1y3 a2b1c3 Add the Add the exponents. D. a2bc3 The degree is 4. exponents. The degree is 6.
  • 4.
    Check It Out!Example 1 Identify the degree of each monomial. a. x3 x3 7 = 7x0 Identify the Identify the exponent. b. 7 The degree is 3. exponent. The degree is 0. c. 5x3y2 5x3y2 a6b1c2 Add the Add the exponents. d. a6bc2 The degree is 5. exponents. The degree is 9.
  • 5.
    The degree ofa monomial is the sum of the exponents of the variables. Find the degree of each monomial. 1) 5x2 2 2) 4a4b3c 8 3) -3 0
  • 6.
    An degree ofa polynomial is given by the term with the greatest degree. A polynomial with one variable is in standard form when its terms are written in descending order by degree. So, in standard form, the degree of the first term indicates the degree of the polynomial, and the leading coefficient is the coefficient of the first term.
  • 7.
    A polynomial canbe classified by its number of terms. A polynomial with two terms is called a binomial, and a polynomial with three terms is called a trinomial. A polynomial can also be classified by its degree.
  • 8.
    Example 2: ClassifyingPolynomials Rewrite each polynomial in standard form. Then identify the leading coefficient, degree, and number of terms. Name the polynomial. A. 3 – 5x2 + 4x B. 3x2 – 4 + 8x4 Write terms in descending order by degree. –5x2 + 4x + 3 Leading coefficient: –5 Degree: 2 Terms: 3 Name: quadratic trinomial Write terms in descending order by degree. 8x4 + 3x2 – 4 Leading coefficient: 8 Degree: 4 Terms: 3 Name: quartic trinomial
  • 9.
    State whether each expression is a polynomial. If it is, identify it. 1) 7y - 3x + 4 trinomial 2) 10x3yz2 monomial 3) not a polynomial 5 7 2 2 y y +
  • 10.
    A polynomial isnormally put in ascending or descending order. What is ascending order? Going from small to big exponents. What is descending order? Going from big to small exponents.
  • 11.
    Put in descendingorder: 1) 8x - 3x2 + x4 - 4 x4 - 3x2 + 8x - 4 2) Put in descending order in terms of x: 12x2y3 - 6x3y2 + 3y - 2x -6x3y2 + 12x2y3 - 2x + 3y
  • 12.
    3) Put inascending order in terms of y: 12x2y3 - 6x3y2 + 3y - 2x -2x + 3y - 6x3y2 + 12x2y3 4) Put in ascending order: 5a3 - 3 + 2a - a2 -3 + 2a - a2 + 5a3
  • 13.
    Write in ascendingorder in terms of y: x4 – x3y2 + 4xy – 2x2y3 1. x4 + 4xy – x3y2– 2x2y3 2. – 2x2y3 – x3y2 + 4xy + x4 3. x4 – x3y2– 2x2y3 + 4xy 4. 4xy – 2x2y3 – x3y2 + x4
  • 14.
    Example 3: Addingand Subtracting Polynomials Add or subtract. Write your answer in standard form. B. (3 – 2x2) – (x2 + 6 – x) Add the opposite horizontally. (3 – 2x2) – (x2 + 6 – x) Write in standard form. Group like terms. Add. (–2x2 + 3) + (–x2 + x – 6) (–2x2 – x2) + (x) + (3 – 6) –3x2 + x – 3