CBSE Class 10 Maths Notes Chapter 2 Polynomials

  • “Polynomial” comes from the word ‘Poly’ (Meaning Many) and ‘nomial’ (in this case meaning Term)-so it means many terms.
  • A polynomial is made up of terms that are only added, subtracted or multiplied.
  • A quadratic polynomial in x with real coefficients is of the form ax² + bx + c, where a, b, c are real numbers with a ≠ 0.
  • Degree – The highest exponent of the variable in the polynomial is called the degree of polynomial. Example: 3x3 + 4, here degree = 3.
  • Polynomials of degrees 1, 2 and 3 are called linear, quadratic and cubic polynomial respectively.
  • A polynomial can have terms which have Constants like 3, -20, etc., Variables like x and y and Exponents like 2 in y².
  • These can be combined using addition, subtraction and multiplication but NOT DIVISION.
  • The zeroes of a polynomial p(x) are precisely the x-coordinates of the points, where the graph of y = p(x) intersects the x-axis.

Zeroes (α, β, γ) follow the rules of algebraic identities, i.e.,
(α + β)² = α² + β² + 2αβ
∴(α² + β²) = (α + β)² – 2αβ

DIVISION ALGORITHM:
If p(x) and g(x) are any two polynomials with g(x) ≠ 0, then
p(x) = g(x) × q(x) + r(x)
Dividend = Divisor x Quotient + Remainder

Remember this!

  • If r (x) = 0, then g (x) is a factor of p (x).
  • If r (x) ≠ 0, then we can subtract r (x) from p (x) and then the new polynomial formed is a factor of g(x) and q(x).