Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
c. 3x
2
d.
a
þ
2
a þ 2
e.
1
3x
2
f. 9x
2
g. 17
h. s
3
þ 4
1
x
i. 4x
3
2x
2
þ
j. 6a þ 7
Working with Polynomials
Given a review of how to identify a polynomial, it is also appropriate to review a few
of the characteristic activities you perform in association with polynomials. First,
when you replace the variable in a polynomial with a number, you find the
value
of
the polynomial. Along the same lines, when you employ operations to determine
thevalueofthevariableinapolynomial,thenyou
evaluate
the polynomial.
When you state a polynomial so that you represent the variable of the polynomial
on one side of an equal sign, and then place another variable on the other side to
represent the value of the polynomial, then you create a
polynomial equation
.
Many of the equations you have dealt with in preceding chapters have been, in
this respect, polynomial equations.
As you have seen repeatedly, to evaluate such an equation, a standard approach
involves supplying a value to the variable of the expression, and then solving the
equation for the value of the variable. The value of the equation corresponds to
the value of the variable, so in this way, you create an ordered pair. When you
have generated two or more ordered pairs in this way, you can plot them in the
Cartesian plane to create a graph of the equation.
In previous chapters, you have extensively explored graphs of linear equations. In
a few instances, you explored graphs that did not involve linear equations. As
mentioned previously, a linear equation generates a line that possesses a slope
that does not change. In contrast, a non-linear equation generates a line that
possesses a slope that does change.
