algebra, monomial, binomial,  trinomial, polynomial, polynomial degree, opposite, zero principle, like terms, sum,  term, difference

Algebra Tile Review

Algebra tiles have a variety of other names: algetiles, math tiles, and virtual tiles.  Algebra tiles can help you visualize equivalent algebraic expressions and/or equations.  Many of the real tiles have a positive and a negative side. The virtual algebra tiles activities will use multi-coloured positive tiles. The reverse (negative) side of each of these tiles is red. It helps to understand that negative tiles have one positive and one negative dimension.

Subtraction With Polynomials

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algebra ("bind together)

3x + 4 = 7

The study of mathematics using letters.  The terms are the "words" of an algebraic expression or equation.

terms

6x⁴, 5x³, 4x²y, -x²,  x

Terms include numbers (numerical coefficients) and letters (variables).  Terms are connected by addition or subtraction.

monomial ("one term")

one term polynomial

binomial ("two terms")

two term polynomial

trinomial ("three terms")

three term polynomial

= 2x² + x - 1

polynomial ("many terms")

x2 + 3

5x³ + 2xy - 4

-6x⁴ + 4x3 - 7xy - 9

Polynomial can be used to represent any number of terms.   Polynomial is often used to represent more than three terms.

polynomial degree

3x²y³ + 3

The polynomial degree for both examples is 5.  The degree is determined by the term with the greatest power.  If there is more than one variable in a term, add the exponents to get the degree.

like terms

Like terms have the same variable(s) and the same degree for each variable.