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key term - Trinomial

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Definition

A trinomial is a polynomial expression that contains three terms. It is a type of polynomial where the variable is raised to different powers, and the terms are connected by addition or subtraction operations.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Trinomials are important in the context of adding, subtracting, and multiplying polynomials, as well as in the process of factoring polynomials.
  2. The general form of a trinomial is $ax^2 + bx + c$, where $a$, $b$, and $c$ are the coefficients, and $x$ is the variable.
  3. Trinomials can be factored using techniques such as the quadratic formula, completing the square, or by identifying common factors and grouping.
  4. Special product forms of trinomials, such as the difference of two squares and the sum or difference of two cubes, can be factored using specific factorization methods.
  5. The greatest common factor (GCF) of the terms in a trinomial can be used to factor the expression by grouping the terms.

Review Questions

  • How can trinomials be used in the process of adding and subtracting polynomials?
    • When adding or subtracting polynomials, the trinomial terms can be combined by adding or subtracting the corresponding coefficients of the like terms. For example, to add the trinomials $3x^2 + 2x - 5$ and $-x^2 + 4x + 7$, we can combine the $x^2$ terms, the $x$ terms, and the constant terms, resulting in $2x^2 + 6x + 2$.
  • Explain the role of trinomials in the context of multiplying polynomials.
    • When multiplying polynomials, the trinomial terms can be multiplied using the distributive property. For instance, to multiply $(2x^2 + 3x - 1)$ and $(x + 2)$, we can distribute each term of the first polynomial to the terms of the second polynomial, resulting in the trinomial $2x^3 + 7x^2 - 5x$.
  • Describe the different methods used to factor trinomials of the form $ax^2 + bx + c$.
    • Trinomials of the form $ax^2 + bx + c$ can be factored using various methods, such as the quadratic formula, completing the square, or by identifying common factors and grouping. The choice of method depends on the values of the coefficients $a$, $b$, and $c$. For example, if $a = 1$, the trinomial can be factored by finding two numbers whose product is $c$ and whose sum is $b$. If $a \neq 1$, the trinomial may need to be factored using the quadratic formula or by completing the square.

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