Addition & Subtraction
Adding Polynomials
To add polynomials, you must clear the parentheses, combine and add the like terms. In some cases you will need to remember the order of operations. Remember, when adding and subtracting like parts, the variable never changes.
Example 1 Add
(5x + 7y) + (2x - 1y)
Step 1. Clear the parentheses.
5x + 7y + 2x - 1y
Step 2. Combine like terms.
(5x + 2x) + (7y - 1y)
Step 3. Add like terms.
7x + 6y
Example 2 Add
(y2 - 3y + 6) + (y - 3y2 + y3)
Step 1. Clear the parentheses.
y 2 - 3y + 6+ y - 3y2 + y3
Step 2. Combine like terms.
y3 + (y2 - 3y2) + (- 3y + y) + 6
Step 3. Add like terms.
y 3 - 2y2 - 2y+ 6