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Algebra basics (ASL)

Course: Algebra basics (ASL) > Unit 7

Lesson 1: Adding & subtracting polynomials (ASL)
Math
Algebra basics (ASL)
Quadratics and polynomials (ASL)
Adding & subtracting polynomials (ASL)
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Adding and subtracting polynomials review

Google Classroom
Adding and subtracting polynomials is all about combining like terms. In this article, we review some examples and give you a chance for you to practice the skill yourself.
Adding and subtracting polynomials is an exercise in combining like terms. Let's walk through some examples.

Example 1

Simplify.
left parenthesis, 5, h, cubed, minus, 8, h, right parenthesis, plus, left parenthesis, minus, 2, h, cubed, minus, h, squared, minus, 2, h, right parenthesis
Rewrite without parentheses:
start color #11accd, 5, h, cubed, minus, 8, h, end color #11accd, start color #ca337c, minus, 2, h, cubed, minus, h, squared, minus, 2, h, end color #ca337c
Group like terms:
left parenthesis, start color #11accd, 5, h, cubed, end color #11accd, start color #ca337c, minus, 2, h, cubed, end color #ca337c, right parenthesis, start color #ca337c, minus, h, squared, end color #ca337c, plus, left parenthesis, start color #11accd, minus, 8, h, end color #11accd, start color #ca337c, minus, 2, h, end color #ca337c, right parenthesis
Simplify:
3, h, cubed, minus, h, squared, minus, 10, h
Want to see another example? Check out this video.

Example 2

Simplify.
left parenthesis, minus, w, cubed, plus, 8, w, squared, minus, 3, w, right parenthesis, minus, left parenthesis, 4, w, squared, plus, 5, w, minus, 7, right parenthesis
Rewrite without parentheses (being careful to distribute the negative):
start color #11accd, minus, w, cubed, plus, 8, w, squared, minus, 3, w, end color #11accd, start color #ca337c, minus, 4, w, squared, minus, 5, w, plus, 7, end color #ca337c
Group like terms:
start color #11accd, minus, w, cubed, end color #11accd, plus, left parenthesis, start color #11accd, 8, w, squared, end color #11accd, start color #ca337c, minus, 4, w, squared, end color #ca337c, right parenthesis, plus, left parenthesis, start color #11accd, minus, 3, w, end color #11accd, start color #ca337c, minus, 5, w, end color #ca337c, right parenthesis, start color #ca337c, plus, 7, end color #ca337c
Simplify:
minus, w, cubed, plus, 4, w, squared, minus, 8, w, plus, 7
Want to see another example? Check out this video.

Example 3

Express E, plus, F as a trinomial.
E=6c2−2c−1F=−4c2+7c+5\begin{aligned} E &= 6c^2-2c-1 \\\\ F &= -4c^2+7c+5 \end{aligned}
E, plus, F, equals, left parenthesis, 6, c, squared, minus, 2, c, minus, 1, right parenthesis, plus, left parenthesis, minus, 4, c, squared, plus, 7, c, plus, 5, right parenthesis
Rewrite without parentheses and color code like terms:
start color #11accd, 6, c, squared, end color #11accd, start color #1fab54, minus, 2, c, end color #1fab54, start color #7854ab, minus, 1, end color #7854ab, start color #11accd, minus, 4, c, squared, end color #11accd, start color #1fab54, plus, 7, c, end color #1fab54, start color #7854ab, plus, 5, end color #7854ab
Group like terms:
start color #6495ed, left parenthesis, 6, minus, 4, right parenthesis, c, squared, end color #6495ed, plus, start color #28ae7b, left parenthesis, minus, 2, plus, 7, right parenthesis, c, end color #28ae7b, plus, start color #9d38bd, left parenthesis, minus, 1, plus, 5, right parenthesis, end color #9d38bd
Simplify:
2, c, squared, plus, 5, c, plus, 4
Want to see another example? Check out this video.

Practice

Problem 1
  • Current
Simplify.
left parenthesis, minus, 3, y, squared, minus, 5, y, minus, 2, right parenthesis, plus, left parenthesis, minus, 7, y, squared, plus, 5, y, plus, 2, right parenthesis

Want more practice? Check out these exercises: