MONOMIALS

A monomial is an algebraic expression that consists of

only one term. (A term is a numerical or literal
expression with its own sign.) For instance, 9 x, 4 a2,
and 3 mpx2 are all monomials. The number in front of
the variable is called the numerical coefficient. In 9 x, 9
is the coefficient.
Adding and subtracting monomials
To add or subtract monomials, follow the same rules as
with signed numbers,provided that the terms are
alike.Notice that you add or subtract the coefficients
only and leave the variables the same.
Example 1
Perform the operation indicated.

3.

(6 k5)(5 k2) = (6 5)( k5 k2) = 30 k5 + 2 = 30 k7

(multiply numbers)

4.

4( m2 n)(3 m4 n3) = [(4)(3)]( m2 m4)( nn3) =

12 m2 + 4 n1 + 3 = 12 m6 n4(multiply numbers)

5.

( c2)( c3)( c4) = c2 + 3 + 4 = c9

6.

(3 a2 b3 c)( b2 c2 d) = 3( a2)( b3 b2)( cc2)( d) =

3 a2 b3 + 2 c1 + 2 d= 3 a2 b5 c3 d

Note that in example (d) the product of 4 and 3 is

+12, the product of m2 and m4 is m6, and the product
of n and n3 is n4, because any monomial having no
exponent indicated is assumed to have an exponent of
l.
When monomials are being raised to a power, the
answer is obtained by multiplying the exponents of
each part of the monomial by the power to which it is
being raised.
Example 3
Simplify.
1.

( a7)3 = a21

2.

( x3 y2)4 = x12 y8

3.

(2 x2 y3)3 = (2)3 x6 y9 = 8 x6 y9

Dividing monomials
To divide monomials, subtract the exponent of the
divisor from the exponent of the dividend of the same
base.
Remember that the rules for signed numbers apply to
monomials as well.
Multiplying monomials
Reminder: The rules and definitions for powers and
exponents also apply in algebra.

Similarly, a a a b b = a3 b2.
To multiply monomials, add the exponents of the same
bases.
Example 2
Multiply the following.
1.

( x3)( x4) = x3 + 4 = x7

2.

( x2 y)( x3 y2) = ( x2 x3)( yy2) = x2 + 3 y1 + 2 = x5 y3

Example 4
Divide.

POLYNOMIALS
A polynomial consists of two or more terms. For
example, x + y,y2 x2, and x2 + 3 x + 5 y2 are all
polynomials. A binomial is a polynomial that consists
of exactly two terms. For example, x + yis a binomial.
A trinomial is a polynomial that consists of exactly
three terms. For example, y2 + 9 y + 8 is a trinomial.
Polynomials usually are arranged in one of two
ways.Ascending order is basically when the power of
a term increases for each succeeding term. For
example, x + x2 + x3or
5x+
2 x2
3 x3 +x5 are
arranged in ascending order. Descending order is
basically when the power of a term decreases for each
succeeding term. For example, x3 + x2+ x or 2 x4 +
3 x2 + 7 x are arranged in descending order.
Descending order is more commonly used.
Adding and subtracting polynomials
To add or subtract polynomials, just arrange like
terms in columns and then add or subtract. (Or simply
add or subtract like terms when rearrangement is not
necessary.)
Example 1
Do the indicated arithmetic.

Multiplying polynomials
To multiply polynomials, multiply each term in one
polynomial by each term in the other polynomial. Then
simplify if necessary.
Example 2
Multiply.

Or you may want to use the F.O.I.L. method

with binomials.F.O.I.L. means First terms, Outside
terms, Inside terms, Last terms. Then simplify if
necessary.
Example 3
Multiply.
(3 x + a)(2 x 2 a) =
Multiply first terms from each quantity.

Now outside terms.

Now inside terms.

Dividing polynomials by polynomials

Finally last terms.

To divide a polynomial by a polynomial, make sure both

are in descending order; then use long division.
( Remember: Divide by the first term, multiply,
subtract, bring down.)
Example 6

Now simplify.
6 x2 6 ax + 2 ax 2 a2 = 6 x2 4 ax 2 a2
Example 4
Multiply.

This operation also can be done using the distributive

property.

Dividing polynomials by monomials

To divide a polynomial by a monomial, just divide each
term in the polynomial by the monomial.
Example 5
Divide.

Divide 4 a2 + 18 a + 8 by a + 4.

3.
Note: When terms are missing, be sure to leave
proper room between terms.

4.

Example 7
Divide.
1.

5.

This answer can be rewritten as

2.
First change to descending order: x2 + 2 x + 1.
Then divide.

Must have two terms.

If the variables are the same, then the

exponents must be different.

Exponents must be whole positive integers.

They cannot be negatives or fractions.

A term is a combination of numbers and variables. In

the first example, 3x+5, our first term is 3x and our
second term is 5. Terms are separated by either
addition or subtraction. In our first example, notice how
the 3x and 5 are separated by addition. In our last
example above, we have a binomial whose two terms
both have the same variable s. Notice how each term
has its variable to a different exponent. The first term
has an exponent of 5 and the second term has an
exponent of 4. While we can have fractions for our
numbers, we cannot have fractional exponents.
Here is a list showing expressions that are not
binomials.

BINOMIAL
Binomial is a little term for a unique mathematical
expression. Learn what makes binomials so special,
how to easily identify them and the mathematical
operations that can be performed on them.

Examples of expressions that are not binomials

What is a Binomial?

Looking at the above, we can say that there are things

that binomials cannot have.

A binomial is a mathematical expression with two

terms. Below are some examples of binomials.

- Exponents cannot be negatives or fractions.

- Variables cannot be in the denominator.
Can You Add Binomials?

Examples of binomials.

All of the above examples are binomials. Look at the

above, study them for a bit, and see if you can spot a
pattern. The following is a list of what binomials must
have.

Now that we can identify binomials, let's see about

adding two binomials together. Adding them is fairly
straightforward as long as you remember to combine
like terms. The caveat here is that many times when
you add binomials, your answer won't be a binomial.
The only time you will get a binomial back as an
answer is if both of your binomials share like terms like
in this example.

Adding binomials that share like terms.

Our first binomial is 5x+3y and our second binomial is

4x+7y. The first term of both binomials have the same
variable to the same exponent, x. The second term of
both binomials also shares a variable to the same
exponent, y. We can go ahead and combine the first
terms (5x and 4x) together because they are like
terms. We can do the same for the second terms (3y
and 7y). To combine like terms, we perform the
addition or subtraction to the numbers and maintain
the variable to its exponent. So 5x+4x=9x and
3y+7y=10y.
Most times, though, you will most likely be adding
binomials that don't share like terms.

Adding two random binomials.

In this example, we end up with an expression that is

not a binomial. Why? Because the first term in our first
binomial has an exponent of 2 but the first term of our
second binomial has an exponent of 1. These cannot
be combined because they are not like terms. Hence,
we have to keep them separated. The second terms of
both binomials are like terms and we can combine
those (3+7=10).

This is the last type of multiplication that we

are going to learn in this unit. The good news
is that there is nothing new to learn here.
This is just applying the distributive
property twice!
The most important part of multiplying two
binomials is to make sure that you multiply
each term in the first factor by each term in
the second. This can get a bit confusing, so
be careful!

Let's make things easier by changing

subtraction symbol to adding a negative
number.

If we apply the distributive property twice, it

would look like this:

Binomial
The algebraic expression which has only two terms,
then the expression is said to be a binomial. Binomial
can be expressed by the operation such as addition,
subtraction.

When the polynomials have two term, then

the polynomials are called as binomials. For
example, in a + b, there are two term a and
b separated by addition operation.

BINOMIAL DEFINITION
A polynomial is a finite sum of the terms. A polynomial
with two terms is called a binomial.
For example, x + 1, y2 - 3, a2 - b2 are binomials.

A polynomial having two terms is called

a binomial.
BINOMIAL IDENTITIES
Binomial identities are given below:
Squaring Binomials
1.

(a + b)2 = a2 + b2 + 2ab

2.

(a - b)2 = a2 + b2 - 2ab

3.

a2 - b2 = (a - b)(a + b)

Cubing a Binomial
1.

(a + b)3 = a3 + b3 + 3a2b + 3ab2

2.

(a - b)3 = a3 - b3 - 3a2b + 3ab2

3.

a3 - b3 = (a - b)(a2 + ab + b2)

4.

a3 + b3 = (a + b)(a2 - ab + b2)

FACTORING BINOMIALS

Factoring is a process of writing a polynomial as a

product. Binomial is the expression which is a
combination of two terms. Let us see with the help of
examples how to factor the binomials.
Factoring Binomials Examples
Let us find the factors of 24x + 3x2.
Given 24x + 3x2
24x = 2 * 2 * 2 * 3 * x
3x2 = 3 * x * x
Take the common factors out
=> 24x + x2 = 2 * 2 * 2 * 3 * x + 3 * x * x
= 3x(8 + x).

MULTIPLYING BINOMIALS
To multiply two binomials, we use the distributive
property more than once. When we multiply two
binomial, we will end up with 4 terms. Method of
multiplying two binomial is also called FOIL method.
The most important part of multiplying two binomials is
to make sure that you multiply each term in the first
factor by each term in the second.
Let us multiply (x + 3)(x - 1)

When terms contain the same variable and same

exponent, they are like terms. Addition of binomials is
done by combining the like terms.
Let us add 12x4y + 10x4y
Given 12x4y + 10x4y
12x4y + 10x4y = (12 + 10)x4y
= 22 x4y
=> 12x4y + 10x4y = 22 x4y.

SUBTRACTING BINOMIALS

To subtract binomials, follow the same rules as with

numbers, provided that the terms are alike. When
terms contain the same variable and same exponent,
they are like terms.
Let us subtract 30xy + 3x2 from 10 x2 - 10xy
Given Two binomials 30xy + 3x2 and 10 x2 - 10xy
=> 10 x2 - 10xy - (30xy + 3x2) = 10 x2 - 10xy - 30xy 3x2
= (10 - 3)x2 + (-10 - 30)xy
= 7x2 - 40 xy

BINOMIAL RADICAL EXPRESSIONS

Given (x + 3)(x - 1)
(x + 3)(x - 1) = x(x - 1) + 3(x - 1)
= x2 - x + 3x - 3
= x2 + 2x - 3.
Dividing Binomials
Back to Top
To divide binomial by binomial or by monomial, use the
reverse form of the rule for adding the fractions with a
common denominator. We can divide a binomial with a
monomial by dividing each term of the binomial by the
monomial.

A radical expression is an expression containing a

square root. Binomial is an expression with two terms,
so binomial radical expression consists one of the term
in radical form.
Let us solve 527 + 103 - 212
Given 527 + 103 - 212
527 + 103 - 212 = 5323 + 103 2223
= 5 * 3 3 + 103 - 2 * 2 3
= (15 + 10 - 4)3

Let us solve x3+8x2+42x.

= 21 3

Given x3+8x2+42x

SOLVING BINOMIALS

x3+8x2+42x = (x+2)(x2+42x)x2+42x
Using the identity a3 + b3 = (a + b)(a2 + b2 - ab), we
get
=> x3+8x2+42x = x + 2.
Adding Binomials
Back to Top

Given below are some of the examples in solving

binomials.

Solved Examples
Question 1: Which of the following referred
as binomial?
3x + y
3*y

3xy
3x y
Solution:
Option a: 3x + y, addition operation makes
the polynomials in two terms.
Option b: 3 * y, multiplication operation
makes the polynomials in one term as 3y.
Option c: 3xy, there is one term in this
polynomial.
Option d: 3x y, division operation makes
the polynomials in one term.
Hence, the "option a" has the polynomials
which have only two term which said to be as
binomial.

Question 1: What is the area of a

square whose side is 2x + 4?
Solution:
Given side of the square = 2x + 4
We know that, the area of the square = side
* side
=> Area of the square = (2x + 4)2
Formula for square of binomial:
(a + b)2 = a2 + b2 + 2ab
=> (2x + 4)2 = (2x)2 + 42 + 2(2x) (4)
= 4x2 + 16 + 16x

Question 2: Solve (x + 2)3

Solution:
Question 2: Prove when we multiply binomial
with monomial, we get binomial.
Solution:

Given (x + 2)3

Let take the binomial as (a + b) and

monomial as x.

Using the identity (a + b)3 = a3 + b3 +

3ab(a + b), we get

Multiply the binomial with monomial,

=> (x + 2)3 = x3 + 8 + 6x(x + 2)

(a + b) * x = ax + bx. Thus we get the

binomial.

= x3 + 8 + 6x * x + 6x * 2

Therefore, we proved as by multiplying

binomial and monomials, we get binomial.

Question 3: Factorize 8a3 - y3

Solution:
Given 8a3 - y3
8a3 - y3 = 23a3 - y3
= (2a - y)((2a)2 + 2ay + y2)
Using the identity a3 - b3 = (a - b)(a2 + 2ab
+ b2), we get
=> 8a3 - y3 = (2a - y)(4a2 + 2ay + y2)

Binomial Example
Given below are some of the solved
examples on binomials.
Solved Examples

=> (x + 2)3 = x3 + 23 + 3 * x * 2 * (x + 2)

= x3 + 8 + 6x2 + 12x.

There are basically three types of grouping symbols:

parentheses, brackets, and braces.
Parentheses ( )
Parentheses are used to group numbers or variables.
Everything inside parentheses must be done before
any other operations.
Example 1
Simplify.
50(2 + 6) = 50(8) = 400
When a parenthesis is preceded by a minus sign, to
remove the parentheses, change the sign of each term
within the parentheses.
Example 2
Simplify.

Brackets [ ] and braces { }

Brackets and braces also are used to group numbers or
variables. Technically, they are used after parentheses.
Parentheses are to be used first, then brackets, and
then braces: {[( )]}. Sometimes, instead of brackets or
braces, you will see the use of larger parentheses.
((3 + 4) 5) + 2
A number using all three grouping symbols would look
like this:
2{1 + [4(2 + 1) + 3]}
Example 3
Simplify 2{1 + [4(2 + 1) + 3]}. Notice that you work
from the inside out.

Order of operations

GROUPING SYMBOLS

If
multiplication,
division,
powers,
addition,
parentheses, and so forth are all contained in one
problem, the order of operations is as follows:

1.

Parentheses

2.

Exponents (or radicals)

3.

Multiplication or division (in the order it occurs

from left to right)

4.

Addition or subtraction (in the order it occurs

from left to right)

Many students find the made up word PEMDAS helpful

as a memory tool. The P reminds you that
parentheses are done first; the E reminds you that
exponents are done next; the MD reminds you to
multiply or divide in the order it occurs from left to
right; and the AS reminds you to add or subtract in
the order it occurs from left to right.
Also, some students remember the order using the
following phrase:
Please

Excuse

My

Paranthese Exponent Multiply

s
s
or

Dear Aunt

Sally

Divid Add
e
or

Subtrac
t

TERMINOLOGY ON ALGEBRA
(1)

Basic algebra terms you need to know are constants,

variables, coefficients, terms, expressions, equations
and quadratic equations. These are some algebra
vocabulary that will be useful.

Constants
Example 4
Simplify the following problems.

A fixed quantity that does not change. For example: 3,

6, ,

Variables
A variable is a symbol that we assign to an unknown
value. It is usually represented by letters such as x,y,
or t. For example, we might say that l stands for the
length of a rectangle and w stands for the width of the
rectangle.

Working with negative exponents

Remember, if the exponent is negative, such as x3,
then the variable and exponent may be dropped under
the number 1 in a fraction to remove the negative sign
as follows.

We use variables when we need to indicate how

objects are related even though we may not know the
exact values of the objects. For example, if we want to
say that the length of a rectangle is 3 times the length
of its width then we can write
l=3w

Coefficients

Example 5
Express the answers with positive exponents.

The coefficient of a variable is the number that is

placed in front of a variable.
For example, 3 w can be written as 3w and 3 is the
coefficient.

For example:
x2 + 2x + 3 = 0
Coefficient
2x2 + 5x 7 = 0
Terms
2x2 + 5x = 8
is a quadratic equation because it can
be changed to 2x2 + 5x 8 = 0

A term can be any of the following:

x2 + x = 0

a constant: e.g. 3, 10, ,

the product of a number (coefficient) and

a variable: e.g. 3x, 11y,

the product of two or more variables:

is a quadratic with c = 0

2x2 7 = 0

is a quadratic with b = 0

2x + 3 = 0

is not a quadratic because a cannot be 0

TERMINOLOGY USED IN ALGEBRA

e.g. x2, xy, 2y2, 7xy

Like terms are terms that differ only in their numerical

coefficients. For example: 3a, 22a,

are like

terms.
Expressions
An expression is made up of one or more terms.
For example:

(2)
A variable is also called an unknown and can be
represented by letters from the alphabet. Operations in
algebra are the same as in arithmetic: addition,
subtraction, multiplication and division. An expression
is a group of numbers and variables, along with
operations. An equation is the equality of two
expressions.
VARIABLES AND CONSTANTS
Algebra started off as the addition and subtraction of
similar objects. For example, you could add three
apples plus two apples to equal five apples. If you
substituted the letter "a" for apples, you would have 3
a + 2 a = 5 a in place
of 3 apples plus 2 apples equals 5 apples.

Equations

Thus, a letter such as "a" could be used for any object.

In fact, it could even represent another number or even
group of numbers and objects.

An equation consists of two expressions separated by

an equal sign. The expression on one side of the equal
sign has the same value as the expression on the other
side.

Variables
The basis of algebra is that the various mathematical
operations can be applied for no matter what you have
for "a", "b", or "x".

For example:

These letters are called variables, because they can

vary and be almost anything. They are also often
called unknowns.

3w + 4xy + 5

4+6=52
l=3w
3w + 4xy + 5 = 2w + 3

Constants
In some situations a quantity may be known, but it is
convenient to designate it as a letter. In such a case,
the letter represents a constant.

A Quadratic Equation is an equation of the form:

In Einstein's famous equation E = mc2, the

letter c represents the speed of light and is thus a
constant. It is easier to use c than to write out the
speed of light as 186,000 miles per second (or 300,000
km per second).

ax2 + bx + c = 0, where a, b and c are numbers

and a 0

In some cases, a constant can be an unknown, but it

does not necessarily vary.

Quadratic Equations

Common convention
Although any alphabetical letter can be a variable, a
common convention used is to designate letters toward
the end of the alphabet to be variables and letters to
the front as constants.
Thus, variables are usually represented by the
letters x, y or z and constants are a, b or c.
In Einstein's equation, c is a constant, but m is a
variable because it represents the unknownmass of an
object (thus the reason to use m instead of some other
letter).
OPERATIONS
Mathematical operations are addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division. Their common symbols are:

Multiplication and division have some variations.

Multiplication sign
Since the letter "x" is often use as a variable or
unknown in algebra, this can cause confusion with the
multiplication sign . Thus, an asterisk (*) or a dot () is
often used to indicate multiplication instead of .
Instead of x y, multiplication is designated
as x*y or xy.
But another problem then pops up. If you use the dot
when dealing with numbers, it may be confused with a
decimal point. For example,
writing 2 times 5 as 25 might be confused
with 2or 2.5. With numbers, it is better to use *, as
in 2*5, or even the sign.

Addition +

Subtraction

Using no multiplication sign

Mathematicians decided to completely drop the
multiplication sign altogether, when multiplying
variables or constantsr. Instead of
writing x times y times z as x*y*z, it is usually written
asxyz in algebra.

Multiplication

Numbers first

Division

When including numbers in the multiplication, the

number is written first and no multiplication sign is
used. Thus, x times 3 is written as 3x,
and x times 2 times a is written as 2ax.

Addition
The following are designated by x + y:
Add x and y

Multiplying numbers together

Increase x by y

But if you are multiplying two or more numbers

together, you must include a multiplication
sign.2 times 5 times 3 is not written as 253 but
as 2*5*3.

Subtraction
The following are all designated by x y:

If there is a letter involved, try to make it as clear as

possible. 2*5x or 2*5*x are both acceptable.

Subtract x from y

Division sign
The slash (/) is also used to denote division. Thus, a
b and a/b both mean "a divided by b."

Find the sum of x and y

Find the difference between x and y

x is decreased by y
x take away y

b also can denote the division of a by b or a fraction.

Since it is difficult to write on a web page, it is seldom
used in websites.

x minus y
x less y
The following are designated by y x:
x less than y
x from y

Other algebraic operations

Other algebraic operations, such as square root and
exponent will be explained in other lessons.
EXPRESSIONS AND EQUATIONS
Expressions lead into equations.
Expressions
An expression is any group or collection of algebraic
numbers and variables, including mathematical
operations such as addition, division, etc. Examples of
expressions include:

3+5
2a + 3x 6/7
5abc
Some expressions may be long and complex, even
including parentheses:
3x + (2z y)/x + 125y (x + y)/(z +2)
Terms
An expression consists of one or more terms that are
separated by an addition or subtraction operation. The
expression 2a + 3x 6/7 consists of the terms
(separated by commas):
2a, 3x, 6/7
Equations
An equation consists of expressions separated by an
equal sign. The assumption is that the expressions on
the left side of the equal sign are equal to those on the
right side.
3+5=8
5x 3y = 4z
27 + x = 17/3x
Since some of these equations contain unknowns or
variables, they require a solution to verify the equation
is valid.
3x 7 = 2 is valid with when x = 3.
Some equations are equalities when the values are
known or the solution is trivial. 3 + 5 = 8and x = 3 are
considered equalities.
Summary
Major terms used in algebra include: variables,
constants, operations, expressions and equations. A
variable can be represented by letters from the
alphabet.
While the addition and subtraction operations are the
same in algebra as in arithmetic, there are some
different designations of multiplication and division
used in web pages.
An expression is a group of numbers and variables,
along with operations. An equation is the equality of
two expressions.