Multiplying Polynomials

Date: 2/10/96 at 20:57:52
From: Anonymous
Subject: algebra

How do you multiply polynomials?

Date: 2/13/96 at 21:35:8
From: Doctor Ethan
Subject: Re: algebra

To multiply two polynomials, simply multiply each element of 
the first by each element of the second.  The coefficients (the 
numbers before the variables) multiply, and the exponents add.

For example:

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

(2x^3)(x) + (2x^3)(3) + (x^2)(x) + (x^2)(3) + (1)(x) + (1)(3) =
   2x^4   +    6x^3   +   x^3    +   3x^2   +   x    +    3   =

It is usually good to group all the terms with the same exponent 
together.

2x^4 + 7x^3 + 3x^2 + x + 3

That was a bit of a fast crash course in polynomials, so you may want 
to look in a good high school algebra textbook or see a math teacher
near you.

Good luck!

-Doctor Ethan,  The Math Forum