Definition of terms:

ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS
 Is a variable, a constant or a combination of variables and constant related by at least one operation.
 It is one or more algebraic terms in a phrase connected by a plus or a minus sign.

ALGEBRAIC TERM – is either a single number or a variable or the product of several number or variables.

In the algebraic expression 7y2 – y – 5.

7y2, – y and – 5 are called terms.

In the term 7y3, 7 is called the numerical coefficient and y2 is called the literal coefficient. Likewise, in the term -y
has a numerical coefficient which is -1 and a literal coefficient which is y.

The term -5 is called the constant, which is usually referred to as the term without a variable.

Numerical Coefficient it refers to a number in a term.

Literal Coefficient it refers to a letter or a variable including the exponent in a term.

Algebraic Term Definition

-5 A single number
CONSTANT – This is a number or a symbol whose value is fixed.
A single variable
VARIABLE – is a symbol which represents any number from a given replacement
a set. Letter represents variables; these are number in disguise.
Most commonly used variables are: x, y, z, a, b, c, , , , 
The product of 3 and x

3x 3 x
Numerical Coefficient Literal Coefficient
The numerical factor in an the literal (variable/s)factor
algebraic term in an algebraic term
m The quotient of m and n
n This is the ratio of m and n, which means : m ÷ n
The square of a number r
r2 This is an example of an exponential expression:
Base: r Exponent/Power : 2
xy Similar Terms
4xy These are similar terms because they have the same literal coefficients.
-12xy The three expressions at the left have a literal coefficient of xy
7y Dissimilar Terms
10y2 These are dissimilar terms because their literal coefficients are NOT the same.
The other term is y while the other one is y2.

Example 2:
Identify the numerical coefficient, literal coefficient, variable/s and constant in the given expressions.
Expression Variables Numerical Literal Constant
Coefficient Coefficient
-x X -1 X
2v3 v 2 v3
-5ab2c + 10 a, b, c -5 ab2c 10
8 – 2x x -2 x 8

Example 3:
Identify the base and the exponent in each expression.
Expression Base Exponent Expanded form
32 3 2 (3) (3)
5
y Y 5 y·y·y·y·y
3m4 m 4 3·m·m·m·m

CLASSIFYING ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

POLYNOMIALS – are special kinds of algebraic expressions. These are expressions with a restriction that the
exponents of variables must be whole numbers. This implies that negative and fractional exponents are NOT
INCLUDED.

An algebraic expression is not a polynomial if:

a. The exponent of the variable is NOT a whole number.
b. The variable is inside the radical sign.
 c. The variable is in the denominator.

Which of the following expressions are not polynomials?

x+ y 1 1
3xy5, 4x2 – 3,
3
, f–2 ,
x
,
r3
, √y
 f–2 is not a polynomial because the exponent of the variable is negative.
1
 is not a polynomial because the variable is at the denominator and this can be written as x–1.
x
1
 is not a polynomial because the exponent of the variable is a fraction.
r3

 √ y is not a polynomial because the variable is under the radical sign and this can be written as y½ .
4
 2 is not a polynomial because it has a variable is in the denominator.
x
 x -4 + x3 – 3 is not a polynomial because it has a negative exponent.
 3xy5 is a polynomial because it has NO negative on any of its variable.
x
 is a polynomial because it has a variable in the numerator.
3
CLASSIFYING POLYNOMIALS ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF TERMS.
Kinds of Polynomial Number of Terms Example
Monomial A polynomial with only ONE term 2x
Binomial A polynomial with only TWO terms. 2a + b2
Trinomial A polynomial with only THREE terms. 2r – 4s + 2
Multinomial More than 3 terms 2x3 – x2 + 5x – 12

Example 4:
Identify the number of terms and the constant term in each expression.
Expression Number of terms Kinds of Polynomial
5x + 3 2 binomial
4y + 3z – 1 3 trinomial
4a3 – 2a2 + 6a – 3 4 multinomials
2x – 3y 2x −3 y binomial
5 2 terms: and
5 5

CLASSIFYING POLYNOMIALS ACCORDING TO DEGREE

a. CONSTANT – a polynomial of degree zero.

b. LINEAR – a polynomial of degree one.
c. QUADRATIC – a polynomial of degree two.
d. CUBIC – a polynomial of degree three.
e. QUARTIC – a polynomial of degree four.
f. QUINTIC – a polynomial of degree five.

 Polynomials are also called classified according to degree. If the polynomial has only one variable its degree is
the highest power appearing in any terms.
EXAMPLE 1: POLYNOMIALS WITH ONLY ONE VARIABLE
POLYNOMIALS DEGREE
4
2X 4
3a3 + 4a2 3
3 + 2m – 4m2 + m3 3

 If the polynomials has more than one variable, its degree is equal to the highest sum of the exponents of the
variable in any of the terms.
EXAMPLE2: POLYNOMIALS WITH MORE THAN ONE VARIABLE
POLYNOMIALS DEGREE SUM OF THE EXPONENTS
xy 2 1+1=2
 2a3b2c 6 3+2+1=6
4m n – 3m4n3
2
7 1st term: 2 + 1 = 3; 2nd term: 4 + 3 = 7
-3s t+ 2t4u2 – 5s3t2u4
3
7 1st term: 3 + 1 = 4; 2nd term: 4 + 2 =6; 3rd term: 3+ 2 + 4
=9

 A polynomial of a nonzero constant is considered to be a polynomial of degree zero. The constant zero is also
called a polynomial but without any degree.

TRANSLATION OF MATHEMATICAL PHRASE AND ENGLISH PHRASE

One of the many uses of algebra is to provide a shorthand for mathematics. It allows us to write long verbal phrases in symbols.

Now you will learn to translate verbal phrases to algebraic expressions and evaluate them.

In translating verbal phrases into algebraic expressions, it is important to know the words that are used to indicate mathematical
operations. Some of these words are shown in the chart that follows.

Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division

 minus  times  divided by
 plus
 less than  multiplied by  shared among
 added to
 decreased by  the product of  partitioned into
 more than
 take away  twice  the quotient of
 increased by
 subtracted from  thrice  the ratio of
 the total of
 the difference between  half of
 the sum of
 reduced by

Note: The language of Algebra makes use of letters or combinations of letters to represent certain values or numbers.

Common Mistakes:
1) The use of less than/more than – 4 less than x = x – 4 (x – 4 ≠ 4 – x)
2) The use of subtracted from – 5 subtracted from y = y – 5 (y – 5 ≠ 5 – y)
3) The use of added to – 3 added to z = z + 3 (z + 3 ≠ 3 + z)

Examples
English Phrases Mathematical Phrase
a number x plus 5 x+5
nine less than a number y y–9
the product of 12 and a number b 12b
m
the quotient of a number m and 15
15
twice a number c added to 23 23 + c
The sum of x and y x+y
6 more than a a+6
Twice m 2m
Thrice x 3x
The difference of b and 10 B - 10
z less than 9 9-z

There are conventions to follow in writing algebraic expression. The following are common errors. Try to avoid
them.

Expression Incorrect Correct

Twice x x2 2x
The variable is written before the constant. The variable is written after the constant.
x more than y x>y y+x
This is read correctly as ‘x is more than y’ ‘more’ here indicates addition
z less than 3 z<3 3–z
This is read correctly as ‘z is less than 3’ The expression refers to a quantity that is z
units smaller than 3. For example, 1 less
than 3 is 2, since 3 – 1 = 2.
8 times the 8x – 5 8(x – 5)
difference of x This is read correctly as ‘the difference of 8 8 is multiplied to the difference of x and
and 5 times a number and 5.

EVALUATING ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

To evaluate algebraic expression means to replace a variable by particular value and to simplify the expression.
Example 1: Evaluate 5a if a = 6.

Solution: Replace a with 6.

5a = 5(6)
= 30

Example 2: Find the value of (x – 2y) + 4 if x = 20 and y = 3.

Solution: Substitute 20 for x and 3 for y.

(x – 2y) + 4 = (20 – 2(3)) + 4

= (20 – 6) + 4
= 14 + 4
= 18

c−d
Example 3: If c = 28 and d = 4, what is ?
6

Solution: Substitute 28 for c and 4 for d.

c−d 28−4 24
= = =¿4
6 6 6

Example 4: If x = -2, what is 2x2 – 3x + 5?

Solution: Substitute -2 for x.

2x2 – 3x + 5 = 2(-2)2 – 3(-2) + 5

= 2(4) – (-6) + 5
=8+6+5
= 19

Example 5: What is x2 – 3xy + 5y2, if x = 3 and y = -1?

Solution: Substitute -2 for x.

x2 – 3xy + 5y2 = (3)2 – 3(3)(-1) + 5(-1)2

= 9 – (-9) + 5(1)
=9+9+5
= 23