Adding Polynomials


Math A	Adding Polynomials

dd like terms by adding the numbers
in front of the terms, following the rules for adding signed numbers.

Example Add: (2x² - 4) + (x² + 3x - 3)

Below are several different ways to attack this example:

1. Using a horizontal method to add like terms:

Remove parentheses. Identify like terms. Group the like terms together.
Add the like terms.

(2x² - 4) + (x² + 3x - 3)

= 2x² - 4 + x² + 3x - 3

= 2x² + x² + 3x - 4 - 3

= 3x² + 3x - 7

2. Using a vertical method to add like terms:

Arrange the like terms so that they are lined up under one another in vertical columns. Add the like terms in each column following the rules for adding signed numbers.

2x² + 0x - 4
+ x² + 3x - 3

3x² + 3x - 7

3. Using algebra tiles to add like terms:

Key:

= x²

(2x² - 4) + (x² + 3x - 3)

4. Using the Distributive Property to add like terms:

When you are adding the coefficients (the numbers in front of the variables) of like terms together, you are using the distributive property.

4x² + 5x² = (4 + 5) x² = 9x²

Roberts