Multiplication of Monomials by Polynomials

Key Questions

  • It works the same as with numbers. For numbers, you know that a(b+c) equals ab+ac.
    For the same reason, if you have a monomial and you want to multiplicate it by a polynomial (which is a sum of monomials with some coefficients!), you follow the same rule.

    For example, if your monomial is 3x^2, and your polynomial is 3+2x-5x^2+8x^3, the product is
    3x^2(3+2x-5x^2+8x^3)
    you will calculate is as
    3x^2\cdot 3+3x^2\cdot2x-3x^2\cdot5x^2+3x^2\cdot8x^3, which is
    9x^2 + 6x^3 - 15x^4 + 24x^5

  • Answer:

    => a_1x^(p_1) * a_2x^(p_2)=a_1a_2x^(p_1+p_2)

    Explanation:

    A monomial is of the form:

    => ax^p

    where a is a constant coefficient and p is a constant power.

    In the case of multiplying two monomials together:

    =>Ax^P equiv a_1x^(p_1) * a_2x^(p_2)

    The coefficients will multiply, so:

    => A =a_1 * a_2

    The powers will sum, so:

    => P =p_1 + p_2

    Hence:

    => Ax^P equiv a_1x^(p_1) * a_2x^(p_2)=a_1a_2x^(p_1+p_2)

    For example:
    =>3x^2*2x

    => (3*2)x^(2+1)

    => 6x^3

  • Just distribute the monomial to each of the polynomial's terms

    For example:

    (3m)(m^2 -2m + 1)

    => (3m)(m^2) - (3m)(2m) + (3m)(1)
    => 3m^3 - 6m^2 + 3m

Questions