Accuplacer Study Modules
TOPIC: Add and Subtract Polynomials
Anne Arundel County Public Schools Page 1 of 3
Office of Secondary Mathematics 06/2016
Khan Academy Link: https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra-basics/quadratics-polynomials-
topic/polynomial-basics-core-algebra/v/adding-and-subtracting-polynomials-2
Steps to Add Polynomials: To add polynomials we simply add any like terms together.
Step 1: Arrange each polynomial with the term with the highest degree first then
in decreasing order of degree.
Step 2: Group the like terms. Like terms are terms whose variables and exponents
are the same.
Step 3: Simplify by combining like terms.
Sample Problem: Add the polynomials. (2x2 + 6x +5) + ( 3x2 โ 2x โ 1)
Step 1: The polynomials are in decreasing order of degree.
Step 2: Group the like terms.
2x2 + 3x2 + 6x โ 2x + 5 -1
Step 3: Simplify by combining the like terms
2x2 + 3x2 + 6x โ 2x + 5 -1
5x2 + 4x + 4
