Chapter 2: Algebraic Expression

➢ Basically, algebra is a generalization of arithmetic. It is the bridge between arithmetic

and the most general concepts of algebra.

➢ The basic difference between arithmetic and algebra is that algebra uses not only
numbers to represent quantities but also letters.

➢ The study of algebra began as early as 1650 BC in Egypt. The first documented
occurrence of algebra-type problems appears in a papyrus copied by Ahmes, an
Egyptian priest. It is very significant because it illustrates the first recorded use of
symbol to represent an unknown quantity. The Egyptians made use of the word hau in
representing any unknown quantity in a mathematical problem.

➢ Diophantus of Alexandria (approximately 200 A.D) a Greek mathematician, is one of

the first mathematician who used symbols to represent unknown quantities.

➢ Mohammed ibn Musaal-Knowarizmi (approximately 800 A.D) famous Arabian

mathematician, wrote a book entitled Al-Jabr wal-Muzabalah, which contributed
greatly to adoption of Hindu-Arabic numerals by the scholars during that time. It is
believed that the word algebra originated from the title Al-jbr.

A. ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS
➢ Algebraic expression is a combination of number symbols connected by any of
the symbols of operation. It is a collection of terms that are separated by addition
and/or subtraction.

➢ The combination of constant and variables with the use of four fundamental
operations
✓ Constant – a number which has a fixed/specific value.

✓ Variable – a letter to represent any number. The value is not fixed. The
word variable takes its root from the word “vary” since the value of a
variable changes.

✓ Term – the combination of constant and variable by multiplication and/or

division. Terms can be:
◼ a constant (number by itself) ex. 12
◼ a variable (a letter that represents a number) ex. X
◼ the product of a number and a variable ex. 4y
◼ the product of two variables ex. xy
◼ the product of a constant and more than one variable
ex. 3ab²c
Examples:
4x + 9y - 4
The terms are: 4x, 9y, and -4
Constant is: - 4
 3x²y - 2xy + xy²
The terms are: 3x²y, -2xy, and xy²
There is no constant

✓ Coefficient – Any factor of a term. It is a number that is being multiplied

by a variable.
• Numerical Coefficient – a number that precedes a variables.
• Literal Coefficient – variables that come/s after a number.

Examples: 𝟓𝒙𝟑
5 – is the numerical coefficient of 𝑥 3
𝑥 3 - is the literal coefficient of 5
3 – is called an exponent

3xy²
3 – is the number of coefficient of 𝑥𝑦 2
x – is the literal coefficient of 3𝑦 2
𝑦 2 – is the literal coefficient of 3𝑥

➢ Writing Expressions
✓ The most important part of writing expressions is to know that words for addition,
subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Addition Subtraction

Sum Difference Parentheses Words

And Minus
Plus Less Times the sum
More than Fewer Times the difference
Increased by Decreased by Plus the difference of

Multiplication Division

Product Quotient
Times Per
Of Divided by
Twice Ration
Triple

Examples of how to write expressions given a verbal description

1. The product of a number and 8 → 8n
2. The sum of a number and 12 → n + 12
3. The quotient of a number and 9 → n÷9
4. 15 increased by a number n → 15 + n
5. 18 less than a number n → n - 18
 6. 4 times the sum of x and 3 → 4(x + 3)
7. n decreased by x → n-x
8. y doubled → 2y
9. 5 less y → 5-y
10. 5 less than y → y-5
11. five less than the product of 2 and x → 2x - 5
x −3
12. The difference of x and 3 divided by 6 →
6
13. Fifteen decreased by the quotient of a number and 3 → 15 - (n ÷ 3)
14. The sum of twice a number and 5 → 2n + 5
1
15. Two less than one-fourth of y → y-2
4
Exercise 1: Combine like terms for each expression.
1. 14a + 5(4a - 3)
2. -8 + 2y + 4
3. 15r - 7 - 16
4. 7p - 12 - 17
5. -9x - (17 - 7x)
6. -4b + 11b
7. -7(7p - 6) + 8(6 + 4p)
8. -11x - 27 + 19x
9. 17 - 6(2y - 3)
10. -7(3c - 8) + 4(9 + 11c)
11. -11(4x + 5) - 9(2 + 5x)
12. 3a + t7 - 11 - 9a
13. -7(5c + 9) - 3(12 + 11c)
14. 19 - 3(12a - 16)
15. -2r - r
16. 9 - 4(11s - 9)
17. -9a + 14a
18. -10(3 - 3x) + 3(5x - 4)
19. -9a + 5(7 +4a)
20. 3b - 5 - 11
21. 15b + 13c - 12b + 10c + 8
22. 5b + 7 - 3b
23. 15p + 7q + 5p - 4q
24. 12z + 5 + 3z
25. 10c + 9 - 7c
26. 5c + 3 - 4c
27. 11p + 19 + 2p
28. c + 19 - 4
29. 14r + 7 - 3r
30. 12x + 12y - 5x + 3y + 20
Exercise 2
Translate the following into an algebraic expression
1. Eight more than one - fourth of d
2. Five less than twice a number
3. Seven increased by the product of two numbers
4. A number m plus six times n
5. The sum of m and n
6. Thirty - four divided by x
7. The quotient of two numbers subtracted from 20
8. The product of six and three less than the number
9. Twice the sum of a number and 8
10. A number divided by 7
11. Nine less than twice a number
12. Six more than five times a number
13. A number decreased by four
14. Four more than a number
15. Twenty less than a number

POLYNOMIAL
➢ The word “Polynomial “is originated from two word –“poly “and “nomial”. Poly means
“many”, nominal refer to” terms”. The meaning of polynomial is associated expression
that has several terms. It is defined a single term or a sum of the finite number of term.

➢ Polynomial is a sum of terms involving variables raised to a whole number exponent,

with no variables appearing in any denominator.

➢ A polynomial is a finite expression constructed from variables and constant, using the
operations of addition subtraction multiplication, and taking non-negative integer
powers.

➢ A polynomial can be written as the sum of a finite number of terms. Each term consists
of the product of a constant (called the coefficient of the term) and a finite number of
variables (usually represented by letters) raised to integer powers.

Note: If an expression has a variable under the square root sign or in the denominator, then
7
the expression is not a polynomial. Thus, the expression √𝑥 + 16 and 4𝑥𝑦 2 − + 3 are not
𝑦
a polynomial.

TYPES OF POLYNOMIAL

 Monomial – contains one term

 Binomial – two terms
 Trinomial – three terms
 Multinomial – has more than three terms
 ➢ Degree of a Term
• The sum of the exponents of the variables in a term
➢ Degree of a Polynomial
• The degree of a polynomial is the degree of its term with the highest degree
➢ Homogeneous expression
• It is an expression in which the degree of each term is the same. Thus, 𝑎3 +
2𝑎2 𝑏 + 7𝑎𝑏 2 − 𝑏 3 is a homogeneous expression of the third degree.

Examples: Find the degree of the following polynomials.

a) 𝑦 3 − 5𝑦 2 + 3𝑦 + 8
b) 7𝑎2 𝑏 4 + 2𝑎𝑏 3 − 8𝑏 2 + 1
c) 3𝑥 3 − 𝑥𝑦 + 2𝑥𝑦 4

Remarks:
First-degree polynomials are called linear polynomials
Second-degree polynomials are called quadratic polynomials
Third-degree polynomials are called cubic polynomials
Fourth-degree polynomials are called quartic polynomials
Fifth-degree polynomials are called quantic polynomials

➢ Evaluation of Algebraic Expressions

1. Evaluate 5𝑎 + 3𝑏 at 𝑎 = 3 and 𝑏 = −2

2. Evaluate 5𝑎𝑏 2 − 𝑎𝑏𝑐 2 at 𝑎 = −1, 𝑏 = 2,and 𝑐 = 4

𝑎2 +𝑏2 +𝐶 2
3. Evaluate at 𝑎 = 1, 𝑏 = −3, and 𝑐 = 4
𝑏3
4. Evaluate 2x² + xy when x is -1 and y is 4
5. Evaluate x² - 3xy + 2y when x = - 3 and y = 2
6 -10. Evaluate the expression when x = - 3 and y = 2
6. x² - y
7. 4x - y
8. 4x - 3y
9. xy - (x + y)
2x
10.
3y

Exercise 3
Find the value of the expressions for the given values of the variable/s
s + (−7)
1. , when s = - 3
−1
2. W + (- 7), when w = - 1
3. - 5d + (- 6) u - 3, when d = 2 and u = 7
4. (10q -5)³, when q = 7
7p+5
5. , when p = - 3
−5
6. q - r - (- 1), when q = 1 and r = 7
7. d(- 7 - s), when d = - 5 and s = - 2
 8. 3 - ( - 4) x², when x = 3
− 4v
9. , when v = - 7 and c = - 2
7c
6b − r
10. , when b = - 4 and r = 1
4

OPERATIONS ON ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

➢ Addition and Subtraction
Basic Principle – Only similar terms can be combined.
Similar terms – are terms with the same literal coefficients (means same letters
with the same exponents)

• Addition is subject to two laws: The Commutative Law and the Associative
Law.
• Like Terms can be combined into a single term. To add like terms, add their
numerical coefficients, and prefix this sum as the numerical factor of the
literal part.
• Addition of Polynomials
- To add two or more polynomials, arrange the terms of each in the same
order, and write them such that similar or like terms are in vertical
alignment.
• Subtraction is the inverse of addition. The process consists of adding the
negative of the subtrahend to the minuend and then applying the rule for
addition of polynomials

Examples

a) (5𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 2) + (6 − 𝑥 2 + 6𝑥) +(3𝑥 + 2𝑥 2 − 1)

= 5𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 2 + 6 − 𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 3𝑥 + 2𝑥 2 − 1
= (5𝑥 2 – 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 2 ) + (−7𝑥 + 6𝑥 + 3𝑥) + (2 + 6 − 1)
= 6𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 7

b) (3𝑥 2 − 1 + 2𝑥) − (𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 3)
= 3𝑥 2 − 1 + 2𝑥 + 𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 3
= (3𝑥 2 − 𝑥 2 ) + (2𝑥 + 5𝑥) + (−1 − 3) Algebraic Expression
= _________________________________

Or

• In subtracting one polynomial from the other, change the signs of the terms
of the subtrahend and proceed to addition.
Illustration:
3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 −1
_
(−)𝑥 2 (+) − 5𝑥 (−) + 3
____________________________
2𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 −4
 ➢ Grouping Algebraic Expressions
Rules in Removing Grouping Symbols

1. To remove parenthesis (the general term for any grouping symbols) preceded
by a positive sign, simply drop the parenthesis without changing the signs of the
terms inside.
Example: 8𝑦 + (−5𝑦 − 20) = 8𝑦 − 5𝑦 − 20 = 3𝑦 − 20

2. To remove parenthesis preceded by a negative sign, change the signs of the

terms inside the grouping symbols to their opposite.
Example: 3𝑦 − (2𝑦 + 24) = 3𝑦 − 2𝑦 − 24 = 𝑦 − 24

3. To remove a series of grouping symbols, begin by removing the innermost

grouping symbol. Then work the outermost grouping symbol until the simplest
expression is attained.

Example 3.1: 5𝑥 − {2𝑥 − [3𝑥 − (5𝑥 − 4𝑦) − 10𝑦]}

Solution:
= 5x- {2x –[3x-5x+4y-10y]}
= 5x- {2x –3x+5x-4y+10y]}
= 5x – {4x+6y}
= 5x – 4x – 6y
Answer = ____________________

Example 3.2: 3𝑎 − {2𝑎 + (3 − 𝑎 + 2𝑏) + (3𝑎 − [3(𝑎 − 2𝑏)]}

Solution:
= 3𝑎 − {2𝑎 + 3 − 𝑎 + 2𝑏 + (3𝑎 − [3(𝑎 − 2𝑏)]}
= 3𝑎 − {2𝑎 + 3 − 𝑎 + 2𝑏 + (3𝑎 − [3𝑎 − 6𝑏) ])}
= 3𝑎 − {2𝑎 + 3 − 𝑎 + 2𝑏 + (3𝑎 − 3𝑎 + 6𝑏)}
= 3𝑎 − {2𝑎 + 3 − 𝑎 + 2𝑏 + 3𝑎 − 3𝑎 − 6𝑏 }
= 30 − 2𝑎 − 3 + 𝑎 − 2𝑏 − 3𝑎 + 3𝑎 − 6𝑏
= (3 − 2 + 1 − 3 + 3)𝑎 + (−2 − 6)𝑏 − 3
= ______________________

➢ Multiplication
• The product of two algebraic quantities with like signs is positive, but
negative if they have unlike signs.
• The product of three or more algebraic quantities is positive when it
contains an even number of negative factors, and negative when it contains
an odd number of negative factors.

Fundamental Law for Multiplication

1. The Index Law: The exponent of the product of two powers of the same letter is the
sum of the exponents of the factors. Thus,
𝑎𝑚 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚+𝑛
 2. The Commutative Law: The product of two or more quantities is independent of
the order of the factor. Thus,
𝑎𝑥𝑏=𝑏𝑥𝑎

3. The Associative Law: The product of three or more quantities is independent of the
order in which the factor is grouped in finding the partial product. Thus,
𝑎𝑥(𝑏𝑥𝑐) = (𝑎𝑥𝑏)𝑥𝑐

4. The Distributive Law: The product of a quantity by the sum of two or more
quantities is the sum of the individual products. Thus,
𝑎(𝑏 + 𝑐 − 𝑑) = 𝑎𝑏 + 𝑎𝑐 − 𝑎𝑑

• Rules in Multiplying Polynomials

1. For multiplication of monomials, multiply the coefficients by
following the rule for multiplication of signed numbers to get the
coefficient of the products. Then multiply the literal coefficients by
following the laws of exponents to obtain the literal coefficient of
the product.
Example: (5𝑥 3 𝑦 2 )(3𝑥𝑦 3 ) = (5)(3)𝑥 3+1 𝑦 2+3

2. For multiplication of polynomial by a monomial, apply the

distributive property of multiplication over addition or subtraction.
Example: 4𝑥 2 (2𝑥 − 3𝑥 2 − 8) = 8𝑥 3 − 12𝑥 4 − 32𝑥 2

3. For multiplication of a polynomial by another polynomial by

another polynomial, take one term of the multiplier at a time and
multiply the multiplicand. Combine similar terms to get the
required product.
Example: (2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥)(𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 − 4)
Solution: = 2𝑥 2 (𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 − 4) − 3𝑥(𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 − 4)
= 2𝑥 5 − 10𝑥 3 − 8𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 4 + 15𝑥 2 + 12𝑥
= 2𝑥 5 − 3𝑥 4 − 10𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 2 + 12𝑥

Note: The product of the polynomial must be arranged in ascending order or in descending
order.
You may also use LATTICE MULTIPLICATION
Example: Multiply (2𝑥 4 − 3𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 6)(𝑥 5 − 3𝑥 3 + 5𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 2)
2
-3 1 -4 6

2 -3 1 -4
6 1

0 0 0 0 0
0 Note: Arrange the
-6 9 -3 12 factors into
-18 -3 descending order. If
10 -15 5 -20 not replace by 0.
30 5

-8 12 -4 16
-24 -4

4 -6 2 -8 12 2

= 2𝑥 9 − 3𝑥 8 − 5𝑥 7 + 15𝑥 6 − 20𝑥 5 + 33𝑥 4 − 48𝑥 3 + 48𝑥 2 − 32𝑥 + 12

And you may Multiply Polynomials to a Polynomials using Detached Coefficient

Example: Multiply (2𝑥 2 + 5𝑥𝑦 + 3𝑦 2 )(𝑥 2 − 4𝑥𝑦 − 5𝑦 2 )

➢ Division
Laws of Signs in Division
If the dividend and divisor are of like signs, their quotient is positive, if the signs are
unlike the quotient is negative.
• Index Law for Division: The exponent of the quotient of two powers of the
same letter is the exponent of the dividend minus the exponent of the
divisor. Thus,
𝒂𝒎
= 𝒂𝒎−𝒏 𝒊𝒇 𝒎 > 𝑛
𝒂𝒏
𝟏
= 𝒏−𝒎 𝒊𝒇 𝒎 < 𝑛.
𝒂

• Rules in Dividing Polynomials

1. For division of monomials, divide the coefficient by following the rule
for division of signed numbers to get the coefficient of the quotient.
Divide the literal coefficients by following the rules of exponent to
obtain the literal coefficient of the quotient.
Example: Divide 27a4b2 /3a3 b
2. For Division of polynomial by a monomial, divide each term of the
polynomial by monomial using the distributive property of division over
addition or subtraction.
Example: (9𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 3 − 12𝑥 3 𝑦 2 𝑧 2 − 15𝑥 4 𝑦 3 𝑧) ÷ (−3𝑥 3 𝑦𝑧)

9𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 3 12𝑥 3 𝑦 2 𝑧 2 15𝑥 4 𝑦 3 𝑧
− −
−3𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 −3𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 −3𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧
 3. For division of a polynomial by another polynomial:
a) Arrange both dividend and divisor according to either descending or
ascending powers of a common letter, leave space or put zero for
the missing term.
b) Divide the first term of the dividend by first term of the divisor to
obtain the first term of the quotient.
c) Multiply the entire divisor by the term of the quotient just found
and subtract the result from the dividend.
d) Annex, the unused term of the dividend to the remainder, being
careful to keep the terms of this polynomial arranged in the same
order as the dividend and divisor.
e) Divide the first term of the polynomial by first term of the divisor to
obtain the second term of the quotient.
f) Multiply the entire divisor by the second term of the quotient,
subtract and continue until the remainder is zero, all the exponent
of the first literal coefficient of the divisor is greater than that of the
same literal coefficient in the dividend.

Example: Divide 4𝑥 3 − 7𝑥𝑦 2 + 3𝑦 3 𝑏𝑦 2𝑥 + 3𝑦

2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2

Solution: 2𝑥 + 3𝑦 / 4𝑥 3 − 0𝑥 2 𝑦 − 7𝑥𝑦 2 + 3𝑦 3
4𝑥 3 + 6𝑥 2 𝑦
−6𝑥 2 𝑦 − 7𝑥𝑦 2
− 6𝑥 2 𝑦 − 9𝑥𝑦 2
2𝑥𝑦 2 + 3𝑦 3
2𝑥𝑦 2 + 3𝑦 3
0

Practice MAKES Perfect

A) Perform the indicated operations and simply

1.(2𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 5) + (2𝑥 4 − 7𝑥 3 − 8𝑥 + 2)
2.(3𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 2 + 13) + (6𝑥 3 + 8𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 − 5)
3.(6𝑥 4 − 3𝑥 2 + 1 ) + (4𝑥 4 − 3𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 9)

B) Remove the grouping of symbol and simplify.

1.14 − {5𝑦 − [𝑥 − 8𝑦 − (15𝑥 + 4𝑦) − 4𝑦] − 7}
2. 3 {5𝑥 2 − 4[𝑥 − (10 − 2𝑥) + 5𝑥] − 6𝑥 2 }
3. 4(𝑥 + 3𝑦) − 3[(𝑥 + 2𝑦) − 4(𝑥 − 3𝑦)]
4. 10𝑎 − [6𝑏 + 2(4𝑏 − 5𝑎) − 8]

C) Find the product of the following

1.8𝑚 (2 − 5𝑚 + 4𝑚2 )
2. (𝑥 − 𝑦)(2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥𝑦 − 𝑦 2 )
3. 2𝑥 4 − 3𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 − 6 𝑏𝑦 𝑥 2 − 2
 D) Perform the indicated operations and simplify
−36𝑎5 𝑏2
1.
12𝑎2 𝑏3

18𝑥 3 𝑦 2 +27𝑥 4 𝑦−45𝑥 4 𝑦 5

2.
9𝑥 2 𝑦 2

2𝑚2 −𝑚−15
3.
2𝑚+5

6𝑥 4 −5𝑥 3 𝑦−𝑥 2 𝑦 2 +12𝑥𝑦 3 −6𝑦 4

4.
2𝑥 2 −3𝑥𝑦+3𝑦 2

5. Divide 6𝑥 5 + 8𝑥 4 − 13𝑥 3 + 22𝑥 − 18 𝑏𝑦 2𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 + 4 𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑡.