Class 9 Mathematics | Polynomials | Notes
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Class 9 Mathematics | Polynomials | Notes
Polynomials
Notes
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Class 9 Mathematics | Polynomials | Notes
Introduction
Polynomial is an expression consisting of variables and coefficients that involves only the
operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and non-negative integer exponents.
Eg p(x)=x2 − 8x + 9.
It is denoted by p(x) or q(x) or r(y) etc
It is typically used in the field of Physics, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Finance etc. A
polynomial can be represented graphically.
Variable & Constants: Variable is denoted by Symbol that can take any real values. E.g. x,
y, z letters are used to denote variable. E.g. x is variable in polynomial p(x)=ax2 − 8x + 9.
Value of constant remains same throughout a particular situation. E.g. 1, 2, 3 a, b, c etc. By
conventions a, b,c are constants & x,y z are used as variables. Value of constant does not
change in a given problem but value of variable keep changing. E.g. a, 8 & 9 are constant in
the polynomial p(x)=ax2 − 8x + 9.
Polynomials in One variable
Area of a square can be represented using polynomial p(x)=x2
Perimeter of Square can be represented using Polynomial q(x)= 4x, where x is variable
Area of a circle can be represented using polynomial q(r)=πr2
Perimeter of circle can be represented using Polynomial q(r)=4πr , where r is
variable
Notice that all the four polynomials above have only one variable. Such kinds of polynomials
are called polynomials in one variable. E.g. x3 – x2 + 6x + 9
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Class 9 Mathematics | Polynomials | Notes
A polynomial p(x) in one variable x is an algebraic expression in x of the form p(x) = anxn +
an–1xn – 1 + . . . + a2x2 + a1x + a0, where a0, a1, a2, . . ., an are constants and an ≠ 0. Note that the
exponents are non negative integers.
Polynomials in Two variables
Area of a rectangle can be represented using polynomial p(x,y)= xy
Perimeter of Rectangle can be represented using Polynomial, q(x,y)=2x+ 2 y,
where x & y are variables
Area of a cylinder can be represented using polynomial p(r,h)=πr2h
Perimeter of cylinder can be represented using Polynomial q(r,h)=4πrh , where r & h are
variables
Notice that all the four polynomials above has 2 variables. Such kinds of polynomials are
called polynomials in two variables. E.g. p(x,y)=x3 – y2 + 6xy + 9
Terms & Coefficient of Polynomial
Terms of polynomial: Each of p(x)=anxn, an–1 xn–1, ..., a0, with an ≠ 0, is called a term of the
polynomial p(x). E.g. in p(x)=ax2 − 8x + 9 polynomial, ax2 ,− 8x , 9 are terms of
polynomials. Polynomial can have any finite number of terms. p(x)= x199 + 4x198 ……. + 2x
+3
A polynomial of one term is called a monomial, two terms is called a binomial, & three
terms is called a trinomial. E.g. p(x)=8x is monomial. p(x)=9x3 + 3 is binomial , p(x)=7x4
+ 3x3 + 7 is trinomial
Coefficient of Polynomial: Each term of a polynomial has a coefficient. So, in p(x)=9x3 -
3x2 +8x – 2, the coefficient of x3 is 9, the coefficient of x2 is -3, the coefficient of x is 8 and –2
is the coefficient of x0.
Constant & Zero polynomial: 9 is also a polynomial. In fact, 4, –8, 32, etc. are examples of
constant polynomials. The constant polynomial 0 is called the zero polynomial.
Polynomials & Algebraic expressions
Polynomial is expression consisting of variable & coefficients that involves only operations +
- / * & non negative integers exponents. All algebraic expression are not polynomials.
E.g. x + x-1 +2 is algebraic expression, but not polynomial, as the exponent is -1 (Negative)
√x + 3x + 8 is also algebraic expression, but not polynomial, as the exponent is ½ (not a
integer)
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Class 9 Mathematics | Polynomials | Notes
Degree of Polynomial
Highest power of variable in a polynomial is called degree of polynomial. E.g. p(x)=9x3 - 3x2
+8x – 2, the highest power is 3. For p(x)= 3x2 +8x – 2 , highest power is 2
Classification of Polynomials based on degree
1. Linear Polynomial: Degree is 1. g. p(x)=8x – 2
2. Quadratic Polynomial: Degree is 2. g. p(x)= 3x2 +8x – 2
3. Cubic Polynomial: Degree is 3. g. p(x)=9x3 - 3x2 +8x – 2
Note that linear polynomial can have at most 2 terms, Quadratic polynomials can have at
most 3 terms, and Cubic polynomials can have at most 4 terms.
General form of polynomials of various degrees.
1. Linear Polynomial. p(x) = ax + b , where a≠ 0
2. Quadratic Polynomial. p(y) = ay2 + by + c , where a≠ 0
3. Cubic Polynomial. p(x) = ax3 + bx2 + cx + d , where a≠ 0
Degree of Polynomial
Highest power of variable in a polynomial is called degree of polynomial. E.g. p(x)=9x3 - 3x2
+8x – 2, the highest power is 3. For p(x)= 3x2 +8x – 2 , highest power is 2
Classification of Polynomials based on degree
1. Linear Polynomial: Degree is 1. g. p(x)=8x – 2
2. Quadratic Polynomial: Degree is 2. g. p(x)= 3x2 +8x – 2
3. Cubic Polynomial: Degree is 3. g. p(x)=9x3 - 3x2 +8x – 2
Note that linear polynomial can have at most 2 terms, Quadratic polynomials can have at
most 3 terms, and Cubic polynomials can have at most 4 terms.
General form of polynomials of various degrees.
1. Linear Polynomial. p(x) = ax + b , where a≠ 0
2. Quadratic Polynomial. p(y) = ay2 + by + c , where a≠ 0
3. Cubic Polynomial. p(x) = ax3 + bx2 + cx + d , where a≠ 0
Note: Degree of Zero polynomial is not defined. It can have any degree.
P(x) = 0 can be written as P(x) =0 * xn where n can be any number.
Zeroes of Polynomial
Zeroes of a polynomial p(x) is real number ‘a’ for which polynomial p(x) if p(a) = 0.
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Class 9 Mathematics | Polynomials | Notes
E.g.: For p(x) = x-2 , p(2) = 2-2 =0. Thus 2 is zeroes for polynomial p(x)= x-2
Note: Every real number is a zero of the zero polynomial p(x)=0.
There is no Zero for polynomial p(x)=8.
Zeroes of a polynomial is special. It is used to find factors of equation p(x)=0.
Zeroes of a polynomial p(x) is real number ‘a’ for which polynomial p(x) if p(a) = 0. In this
case, a is also called a root.
E.g.: For equation P(x) = x2-4, Zeroes are 2 & -2 since p(2)= p(-2)=0. Once we find zeroes,
we can easily find the factors. For this equation x2-4=0, factors are (x-2) & (x+2) using
remainder theorem.
Find Remainder using Long Division
If you divide 7/3, you get 2 as quotient, 1 as remainder. Also 3 is divisor here & 7 is
dividend.
So we can write 7 = (3 * 2) +1 or Dividend = (Divisor * Quotient) + Remainder.
Observe that Remainder is always less that Divisor.
Let’s try to divide two polynomials. E.g. p(x)/ q(x) where p(x) = 2x3 + x2 + x & q(x) =x.
In this case , x is common to each term of 2x3 + x2 + x. So we can write 2x3 + x2 + x as x(2x2
+ x + 1). We say that x and 2x2 + x + 1 are factors of 2x3 + x2 + x, and 2x3 + x2 + x is a
multiple of x as well as a multiple of 2x2 + x + 1.
Let us try to divided p(x)= 3x2 + x + 1 with q(x)= x.
(3x2 + x + 1) ÷ x = (3x2 ÷ x) + (x ÷ x) + (1 ÷ x) = 3x + 1 + 1/x.
Since the last term (1) is not divisible by x, we will write this expression as
3x2 + x + 1 = {(3x + 1) × x} + 1 à Dividend = (Divisor × Quotient) + Remainder
Notice that 1 is remainder here. In this case, 3x + 1 is the quotient and 1 is the
remainder. Also here, x is not a factor of 3x2 + x + 1, since the remainder is not zero.
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Class 9 Mathematics | Polynomials | Notes
Let us try to divided p(x)= 3x2 + x - 1 with q(x)= x+1.
3x2 + x - 1 = {(x + 1) ×( 3x-2)} + 1 Dividend = (Divisor × Quotient) + Remainder
Remainder Theorem
It is little tedious to divide 2 polynomials using the process described in previous section, So
we use Remainder theorem.
Remainder theorem: Let p(x) be any polynomial of degree greater than or equal to one and
let a be any real number. If p(x) is divided by the linear polynomial x – a, then the remainder
is p(a).
Proof: Let p(x) be any polynomial with degree greater than or equal to 1. Suppose that when
p(x) is divided by x – a, the quotient is q(x) and the remainder is r(x), i.e., p(x) = (x – a) q(x) +
r(x) -- (i)
Since the degree of x – a is 1 and the degree of r(x) is less than the degree of x – a, the degree
of r(x) = 0. This means that r(x) is a constant, say r. Thus we can re-write eq (i) as p(x) = (x –
a) q(x) + r –(ii)
In particular, if x = a, then eq (ii) becomes p(a) = (a – a) q(a) + r = r,
Question: Find the remainder when p(x) = x4 + x3 – 2x2 + x + 1 is divided by x – 1.
Solution: Zero of x – 1 is 1, so as per remainder theorem remainder in this case will be p(1) .
So, p(1) = (1)4 + (1)3 – 2(1)2 + 1 + 1 = 2
Factor Theorem
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Class 9 Mathematics | Polynomials | Notes
x – a is a factor of the polynomial p(x), if p(a) = 0. Also, if x – a is a factor of p(x), then p(a)
= 0, where a is any real number. This is an extension to remainder theorem where remainder
is 0, i.e. p(a) = 0.
Numerical: Examine whether x + 2 is a factor of p(x)= x3 + 3x2 + 5x + 6
Solution : The zero of x + 2 is –2. As, per factor theorem, x+2 is factor of p(x) if p(-2) = 0.
p(–2) = (–2)3 + 3(–2)2 + 5(–2) + 6 = 0.
Thus, x+2 is factor of p(x)= x3 + 3x2 + 5x + 6
Algebraic Identities
Algebraic identity is an algebraic equation that is true for all values of the variables occurring
in it
• (x + y)2 = x2 + 2xy + y2
• (x – y)2 = x2 – 2xy + y2
• x2 – y2 = (x + y) (x – y)
• (x + a) (x + b) = x2 + (a + b)x + ab.
• (x + y + z)2 = x2 + y2 + z2 + 2xy + 2yz + 2zx
• (x + y)3 = x3 + y3 + 3xy(x + y)
• (x – y)3 = x3 – y3 – 3xy(x – y)
• x3 + y3 + z3 – 3xyz = (x + y + z) (x2 + y2 + z2 – xy – yz – zx)
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