Explanation
Coefficient multiplication is an essential operation in algebra, particularly when dealing with polynomials and other algebraic expressions. It involves multiplying the numerical coefficients of terms directly while keeping the variable parts unchanged.
Polynomials
Consider two polynomials:
P(x)=a1xn+a2xn−1+…+an
Q(x)=b1xm+b2xm−1+…+bm
When multiplying these two polynomials, each term from P(x) must be multiplied by each term from Q(x). The product of these terms involves coefficient multiplication. If we take two terms from each polynomial, say aixi and bjxj, their product is:
(aixi)⋅(bjxj)=(ai⋅bj)xi+j
Here, the coefficients ai and bj are multiplied, and the exponents of the variable x are added.
Example
Suppose we have:
P(x)=3x2+2x+1
Q(x)=2x+4
To multiply these polynomials, each term in P(x) is multiplied by each term in Q(x):
(3x2+2x+1)(2x+4)=6x3+16x2+10x+4
Here, the coefficients are multiplied (e.g., 3⋅2=6 and 3⋅4=12) to get the resulting polynomial.
Conclusion
In algebra, coefficient multiplication is a straightforward but crucial process for expanding and simplifying expressions. Understanding it helps in solving various algebraic problems effectively.