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# Addition and Subtraction of Polynomials

## Combining like terms in polynomial expressions

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Addition and Subtraction of Polynomials

Suppose that two cars are having a race. The distance traveled by one car after seconds is meters, while the distance traveled by the other car after seconds is meters. How far apart would the two cars be after seconds? What would you have to do to find the answer to this question?

### Adding and Subtracting Polynomials

To add or subtract polynomials, you have to group the like terms together and combine them to simplify.

#### Let's complete the following problems:

1. Add and .

1. Subtract from .

#### Solving Real-World Problems Using Addition or Subtraction of Polynomials

Polynomials are useful for finding the areas of geometric objects. In the following problems, you will see this usefulness in action.

#### Let's write a polynomial that represents the area of each figure shown.

The blue square has the following area: .

The yellow square has the following area: .

The pink rectangles each have the following area: .

1.

To find the area of the green region we find the area of the big square and subtract the area of the little square.

The big square has an area of .

The little square has an area of .

Area of the green region

### Examples

#### Example 1

Earlier, you were told that in a race, the distanced traveled by one car after  seconds is  meters while the distance traveled by the second car after  seconds is  meters. How far apart would the two cars be after  seconds.

To solve this question, you need to subtract the two expressions that represent distances. Let's subtract the distance of the first car from the distance of the second car and simplify.

The two cars would be  meters apart after  seconds.

#### Example 2

Subtract from .

When subtracting polynomials, we have to remember to subtract each term. If the term is already negative, subtracting a negative term is the same thing as adding:

The final answer is in standard form.

### Review

Add and simplify.

Subtract and simplify.

Find the area of the following figures.

### Review (Answers)

To see the Review answers, open this PDF file and look for section 9.2.

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### Vocabulary Language: English Spanish

constant

In a polynomial, the number appearing all by itself without a variable is called the constant.

like Terms

Like terms are terms in the polynomial that have the same variable(s) with the same exponents, but they can have different coefficients.

Polynomial

A polynomial is an expression with at least one algebraic term, but which does not indicate division by a variable or contain variables with fractional exponents.

distributive property

The distributive property states that the product of an expression and a sum is equal to the sum of the products of the expression and each term in the sum. For example, $a(b + c) = ab + ac$.

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