Section 6-4
Adding and Subtracting Polynomials
When adding and subtracting polynomials, you can use the distributive
property to add or subtract the coefficients of like terms.
(Recall that like terms are monomials with the same variables, such as 3x2y and
82x2y.)
It may be helpful to arrange the like terms in columns, as with multi-digit
addition.
Example:
Subtract.
(x2 + 3xy – 9) – (–2y2 +
5xy + 6)
Arrange vertically.
Subtract term by term.
The solution is x2 + 2y2– 2xy – 15.