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Polynomials - Long Division

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15 views3 pages

Polynomials - Long Division

Uploaded by

pirim2357
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Polynomials - Long Division

A polynomial looks like this:

4xy 2 + 3x - 5

terms
example of a polynomial
this one has 3 terms

Dividing
x 2 + 2x − 7 Polynomials can sometimes be divided using the simple methods
x−2 shown on Dividing Polynomials .

But sometimes it is better to use "Long Division" (a method similar to


Long Division for Numbers )

Numerator and Denominator


We can give each polynomial a name:
the top polynomial is the numerator
x 2 + 2x − 7 Numerator
the bottom polynomial is the denominator
x−2 Denominator
If you have trouble remembering,
think denominator is down-ominator.

The Method
Write it down neatly:
the denominator goes first,
then a ")", x 2 + 2x − 7
x−2
then the numerator with a line 2
above x−2 x + 2x − 7
Both polynomials should have the "higher order" terms first (those with the largest
exponents , like the "2" in x2).

Then:

Divide the first term of the numerator by the first term of the denominator,
and put that in the answer.
Multiply the denominator by that answer, put that below the numerator
Subtract to create a new polynomial

Repeat, using the new polynomial

It is easier to show with an example!

Example:
x2 − 3x − 10
x+2

Write it down neatly like below, then solve it step-by-step (press play):

Check the answer:

Multiply the answer by the bottom polynomial, we should get the top
polynomial:

(x − 5)(x + 2) = x2 + 2x − 5x − 10

= x2 − 3x − 10

Remainders
The previous example worked perfectly, but that is not always so! Try this one:

After dividing we were left with "2", this is the "remainder".

The remainder is what is left over after dividing.

But we still have an answer: put the remainder divided by the bottom polynomial as
part of the answer, like this:
2x2 − 5x − 1
= 2x + 1 + 2
x−3 x−3

"Missing" Terms
There can be "missing terms" (example: there may be an x3, but no x2). In that case
either leave gaps, or include the missing terms with a coefficient of zero.

Example:

x6 + 2x4 + 6x − 9
x3 + 3

Write it down with "0" coefficients for the missing terms, then solve it normally
(press play):

See how we needed a space for "3x3" ?

More than One Variable


So far we have been dividing polynomials with only one variable (x), but we can
handle polynomials with two or more variables (such as x and y) using the same
method.

Example:

x2 + 2x2y − 2xy + 2xy2 − 3y2


x+y

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