This week, we started our polynomials unit. I’ve always found solving polynomials hard, but this week I learned that using algebra tiles makes solving polynomials a lot easier. When using algebra tiles to express a polynomial the big square represents , the rectangle represents x, and the little square represents the constant (1). When the algebra tiles are shaded in, they are positive. When the algebra tiles are not shaded in, they are negative. If your polynomial was 3
+ 2x – 1 you would use 3 positive big squares, 2 positive rectangles, and 1 negative little square to express the polynomial.
Picture of algebra tiles: