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Multiplication of a Polynomial by a Monomial
To multiply a polynomial by a monomial, use the distributive property: multiply each term of the polynomial by the monomial. This involves multiplying coefficients and adding exponents of the appropriate variables.
Example 1: 3y2(12y3 -6y2 + 5y - 1) =?
= 3y2(12y3) + (3y2)(- 6y2) + (3y2)(5y) + (3y2)(- 1)
= (3)(12)y2+3 + (3)(- 6)y2+2 + (3)(5)y2+1 + (3)(- 1)y2
= 36y5 -18y4 +15y3 -3y2
Example 2: -4x3y(- 2y2 + xy - x + 9) =?
= - 4x3y(- 2y2) + (- 4x3y)(xy) + (- 4x3y)(- x) + (- 4x3y)(9)
= (- 4)(- 2)x3y1+2 + (- 4)x3+1y1+1 + (- 4)(- 1)x3+1y + (- 4)(9)x3y
= 8x3y3 -4x4y2 +4x4y - 36x3y
Multiplication of Binomials
To multiply a binomial by a binomial--(a + b)(c + d ), where a,
b, c, and d are terms--use the distributive property twice.
First, treat the second binomial as a single term and distribute over
the first binomial:
| (a + b)(c + d )= a(c + d )+ b(c + d ) |
Next, use the distributive property over the second binomial:
| a(c + d )+ b(c + d )= ac + ad + bc + bd |
At this point, there should be 4 terms in the answer -- every combination of a term of the first binomial and a term of the second binomial. Simplify the answer by combining like terms.
We can use the word FOIL to remember how to multiply two binomials (a + b)(c + d ):
- Multiply their First terms. (ac)
- Multiply their Outside terms. (ad )
- Multiply their Iinside terms. (bc)
- Multiply their Last terms. (bd )
- Finally, add the results together: ac + ad + bc + bd. Combine like terms.
Example 1.(xy + 6)(x + 2y) =?
= (xy)(x) + (xy)(2y) + (6)(x) + (6)(2y)
= x2y + 2xy2 + 6x + 12y
Example 2.(3x2 +7)(4 - x2) =?
= (3x2)(4) + (3x2)(- x2) + (7)(4) + (7)(- x2)
= 12x2 -3x4 +28 - 7x2
= - 3x4 + (12 - 7)x2 + 28
= - 3x4 +5x2 + 28
Example 3: (y - x)(- 4y - 3x) =?
= (y)(- 4y) + (y)(- 3x) + (- x)(- 4y) + (- x)(- 3x)
= - 4y2 -3xy + 4xy + 3x2
= 3x2 + (- 3 + 4)xy - 4y2
= 3x2 + xy - 4y2
Multiplication of Polynomials
The strategy for multiplying two polynomials in general is similar to
multiplying two binomials. First, treat the second polynomial as a
single term, and distribute
over the first term:
| (a + b + c)(d + e + f )= a(d + e + f )+ b(d + e + f )+ c(d + e + f ) |
Next, distribute over the second polynomial:
| a(d + e + f )+ b(d + e + f )+ c(d + e + f )= ad + ae + af + bd + be + bf + cd + ce + cf |
At this point, the number of terms in the answer should be the number in the first polynomial times the number in the second polynomial--every combination of a term of the first polynomial and a term of the second polynomial. Since there are 3 terms in each polynomial in this example there should be 3(3) = 9 terms in our answer so far. If the first polynomial had 4 terms and the second had 5, there would be 4(5) = 20 terms in the answer so far.
Finally, since the the terms in such a product of polynomials are often highly redundant (many have the same variables and exponents), it is important to combine like terms.
Example 1: (x2 -2)(3x2 - 3x + 7) =?
= x2(3x2 -3x + 7) - 2(3x2 - 3x + 7)
= x2(3x2) + x2(- 3x) + x2(7) - 2(3x2) - 2(- 3x) - 2(7) (6 terms)
= 3x4 -3x3 +7x2 -6x2 + 6x - 14
= 3x4 -3x3 + (7 - 6)x2 + 6x - 14
= 3x4 -3x3 + x2 + 6x - 14
Example 2: (x2 + x + 3)(2x2 - 3x + 1) =?
= x2(2x2 -3x + 1) + x(2x2 -3x + 1) + 3(2x2 - 3x + 1)
= x2(2x2) + x2(- 3x) + x2(1) + x(2x2) + x(- 3x) + x(1) + 3(2x2) + 3(- 3x) + 3(1) (9 terms)
= 2x4 -3x3 + x2 +2x3 -3x2 + x + 6x2 - 9x + 3
= 2x4 + (- 3 + 2)x3 + (1 - 3 + 6)x2 + (1 - 9)x + 3
= 2x4 - x3 +4x2 - 8x + 3
Note: To check your answer, pick a value for the variable and evaluate both the original expression and your answer--they should be the same.
