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Long Division of Polynomials

The document discusses long division of polynomials. It explains that if a number r is a root of a polynomial P(x), then the polynomial can be factored as P(x) = (x - r)Q(x) where Q(x) is a polynomial of lower degree. As an example, it shows dividing the polynomial x3 - x2 + 2 by (x + 1), since -1 is a root, to get the quotient x2 - 2x + 2 and remainder of 0. An alternative method involves setting up the division as an equation and matching coefficients.

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Yaj Narolog
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34 views

Long Division of Polynomials

The document discusses long division of polynomials. It explains that if a number r is a root of a polynomial P(x), then the polynomial can be factored as P(x) = (x - r)Q(x) where Q(x) is a polynomial of lower degree. As an example, it shows dividing the polynomial x3 - x2 + 2 by (x + 1), since -1 is a root, to get the quotient x2 - 2x + 2 and remainder of 0. An alternative method involves setting up the division as an equation and matching coefficients.

Uploaded by

Yaj Narolog
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Long Division of Polynomials

Suppose that P (x) is a polynomial of degree p and suppose that you know that r is a root of that
polynomial. In other words, suppose you know that P (r) = 0. Then it is always possible to factor (x − r) out
of P (x). More precisely, it is alway possible to find a polynomial Q(x) of degree p − 1 such that
P (x) = (x − r)Q(x)
In sufficiently simple cases, you can probably do this factoring by inspection. For example, P (x) = x2 − 4 has
r = 2 as a root because P (2) = 22 − 4 = 0. In this case, P (x) = (x − 2)(x + 2) so that Q(x) = (x + 2). As
another example, P (x) = x2 − 2x − 3 has r = −1 as a root because P (−1) = (−1)2 − 2(−1) − 3 = 1 + 2 − 3 = 0.
In this case, P (x) = (x + 1)(x − 3) so that Q(x) = (x − 3).
Once you have found a root r of a polynomial, even if you cannot factor (x − r) out of the polynomial
by inspection, you can find Q(x) by dividing P (x) by x − r, using the long division algorithm you learned in
public school, but with 10 replaced by x.

Example. P (x) = x3 − x2 + 2.
Because P (−1) = (−1)3 − (−1)2 + 2 = −1 − 1 + 2 = 0, r = −1 is a root of this polynomial. So we
3 2
+2 2
divide x −x
x+1 . The first term, x , in the quotient is chosen so that when you multiply it by the denominator,
x (x + 1) = x + x , the leading term, x3 , matches the leading term in the numerator, x3 − x2 + 2, exactly.
2 3 2

x2
x + 1 x3 − x2 + 2
x3 + x2
When you subtract x2 (x + 1) = x3 + x2 from the numerator x3 − x2 + 2 you get the remainder −2x2 + 2. Just
like in public school, the 2 is not normally “brought down” until it is actually needed.
x2
x + 1 x3 − x2 + 2
3 2
x +x
−2x2
The next term, −2x, in the quotient is chosen so that when you multiply it by the denominator, −2x(x + 1) =
−2x2 − 2x, the leading term −2x2 matches the leading term in the remainder exactly.
x2 − 2x
x + 1 x3 − x2 + 2
x3 + x2
−2x2
−2x2 − 2x
And so on.
x2 − 2x + 2
x + 1 x3 − x2 + 2
x3 + x2
−2x2
−2x2 − 2x
2x + 2
2x + 2
0
Note that we finally end up with a remainder 0. Since −1 is a root of the numerator, x3 −x2 +2, the denominator
x − (−1) must divide the numerator exactly.

There is an alternative to long division that involves more writing. In the previous example, we know


c Joel Feldman. 1998. All rights reserved. 1
x3 −x2 +2
that x+1 must be a polynomial (since −1 is a root of the numerator) of degree 2. So

x3 − x2 + 2
= ax2 + bx + c
x+1

for some, as yet unknown, coefficients a, b and c. Cross multiplying and simplifying

x3 − x2 + 2 = (ax2 + bx + c)(x + 1)
= ax3 + (a + b)x2 + (b + c)x + c

Matching coefficients of the various powers of x on the left and right hand sides

coefficient of x3 : a=1
2
coefficient of x : a + b = −1
coefficient of x1 : b + c = 0
coefficient of x0 : c=2

tells us directly that a = 1 and c = 2. Subbing a = 1 into a + b = −1 tells us that 1 + b = −1 and hence b = −2.


c Joel Feldman. 1998. All rights reserved. 2

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