For any polynomials f(x) and g(x), g(x) being of lesser degree than f(x), there exist unique polynomials q(x) and r(x) such that
Find:
Example
The problem is written like this (note that the x term is included):
1. Divide the first term of the dividend by the first term of the divisor. Place the result above the bar (x3 ÷ x = x2).
2. Multiply the divisor by the term you just wrote. Write the result under the first two terms of the dividend (x2 * (x-3) = x3 - 3x2).
3. Subtract the second term of the result you just got from the second term of the dividend and write the result under both of them. This can be tricky at times, because of the sign. (-12x2 - (-3x2) = -12x2 + 3x2 = -9x2) Then, "pull down" the next term from the dividend.
4. Repeat the last three steps, except this time use the two terms that you have just written as the dividend.
5. Repeat step 4. This time, there is nothing to pull down.
The polynomial above the bar is the quotient, and the number left over (-123) is the remainder.
Synthetic Division
Synthetic division is a method of performing polynomial long division without having to maintain long records of the process of long division as above -- though the processes are still the same. It however, only deals with division by monic linear polynomials.
Performing the same example as before:
The following corresponds to the result of the division: