Adding, Subtracting, Multiplying, and Dividing Polynomials

A polynomial is a mathematical expression consisting of variables (also called indeterminates) raised to non-negative integer powers and coefficients, combined using addition, subtraction, and multiplication.

The degree of a polynomial is the highest power of the variable in the polynomial.

The leading coefficient is the coefficient of the term with the highest degree in a polynomial.

To add polynomials, combine like terms by adding their coefficients.

To subtract polynomials, distribute the negative sign and then combine like terms.

Like terms are terms that have the same variable raised to the same power.

To multiply polynomials, use the distributive property (FOIL for binomials) to multiply each term in the first polynomial by each term in the second polynomial.

The result is a^2 - b^2, which is the difference of squares.

-6n^3.

b^3 + 5b^2 + 7b + 3.