Division

of Polynomials
Long Division

Synthetic
Division
Use long division to divide the first polynomial by the
second.

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)
1)

4 3 2
2 x + 4 x +3 x
9 𝑥 18 x 5 +36 x 4 +27 x 3
−1 8 x 5
0 +36 x 4

− 36 x
4

0+27 x 3
− +27 x
3

5 4 3 4 3 2
(18 x +36 x +27 x ) ÷ 9 x=2 𝑥 + 4 𝑥 + 3 𝑥
2)

x+ 4
x +10 x 2 +14 x +31
2
−x +10 x
4 x+3 1
− 4 x + 40
−9

9
( x +14 x+ 31 ) ÷ ( x +10 ) = x +4 −
2
x+ 10
 3 2
3 x −5 x −32 x+ 144 ÷ x + 4

3 x −17 x +36
2

x + 43 x 3 −5 x 2 −32 x+ 144
3 2
−3 x +12 x
−17 x−32 x
2

− −17 x 2 −68 x
36 x+144
−36 x +144
0
( 3 x 3 −5 x 2 −32 x +144 ) ÷ ( x+ 4 )=3 𝑥 2 −17 𝑥+ 36
 4 3 2
4 x + 5 x + x − 3 x −10 ; 2 x −1 7 +9
2
3
−
2 x+ 2 x 4 x
3
8
2 x − 14 x 4 + 5 x 3+ x 2 − 3 x −10
−4 x 4 −2 x 3
3 2
7 x+ x
7 2
3
−
7x − x
2
9 2
x−3 x
2
9 2 9
−2 x − 4 x
3
− x+ 10
4
3 3
−− 4 x + 8
77
8
 4 2
10 x − x − 3 x +10 ; x − 5
3
10 x−50 x−251
2
x−1258
x −5 10 x 4 + 0 x 3 − x 2 − 3 x +10
−10 x 4 −50 x 3
3 2
−50 x− x
−−50 x 3 + 250 x 2
−251 x −3
2
x
−−251 x 2 +1255 x
−1258 x+10
−−1258 x +6290
−6280
Use synthetic division to divide the first polynomial by
the second.

1)

2)

3)

4)
 Synthetic Division
1.Arrange the coefficients of the dividend in descending powers,
placing a zero for any missing terms. Determine c and place it
to the left of the dividend coefficients.
2.Bring down the first coefficient of the dividend.
3.Multiply r by this coefficient and place the product under the
next dividend coefficient. Add the result.
4.Repeat step 3 until all dividend coefficients have been used.
1)

Solve for c -6 1 5 -11 -25 29

𝑥+ 6=0 -6 6 30 -30
𝑥=−6 1 -1 -5 5 -1
Coefficients of the QuotientRemainder

1
( 𝑥 +5 𝑥 −11 𝑥 −25 𝑥 +29 ) ÷ ( 𝑥+ 6 ) =𝑥 − 𝑥 −5 𝑥 +5 −
4 3 2 3 2
𝑥+6
2)

𝟑
Solve for c 𝟐 4 6 -8 -12
2 𝑥 −3=0 6 18 15
3
𝑥= 4 12 10 3
2
Coefficients of the Quotient
Remainder

3
( 4 𝑥 +6 𝑥 − 8 𝑥 −12 ) ÷ ( 2 𝑥 −3 )= 4 𝑥 +12 𝑥+ 10+
3 2 2
2𝑥−3
3)

𝟏
−
Solve for c 𝟐 6 5 -3 -2
2 𝑥+1=0 -3 -1 2
1 6 2 -4
𝑥=− 0 Remainder
2
Coefficients of the Quotient

( 6 𝑥 3 +5 𝑥 2 − 3 𝑥 − 2 ) ÷ ( 2 𝑥+1 ) =6 𝑥 2+ 2 𝑥 − 4
4) Solve for c

𝑥+ 4=0
𝑥=− 4
-4 8 32 0 0 5 20
-32 0 0 0 -20
8 0 0 0 5 0 Remainder

Coefficients of the Quotient

( 8 𝑥 5 +32 𝑥 4 +5 𝑥+ 20 ) ÷ ( 𝑥+ 4 )= 8 𝑥 4 + 5
Factor Theorem
Factor theorem states that if a polynomial is divided by
and the remainder is 0, the following are true:
 is a factor of polynomial
 is root/solution of the polynomial
1. Solve for c

𝑥 −2=0
2 1 -5 6 𝑥 =2
2 -6
1 -3 0 Remainder

Coefficients of the Quotient

( 𝑥 2 − 5 𝑥 +6 ) ÷ ( 𝑥 −2 ) =𝑥 −3

Therefore, is one of the factors of and is one of the

roots of the given polynomial.
Determine whether is a factor of Solve for c

𝑥 −3=0
𝑥=3
𝑃 ( 3 ) =¿3 (3)3 − 4 ( 3 )2 + 3 ( 3 ) −18
𝑃 ( 3 ) =¿3 ( 27 ) − 4 ( 9 ) +9 − 18
𝑃 ( 3 ) =¿81 −36 +9 −18

𝑃 ( 3 ) =36

Since , thus is not a factor of .

Determine whether is a factor of
Solve for c

𝑃 ( −3 ) =¿(− 3) − 2 (− 3 ) −11 ( − 3 ) +12

3 2 𝑥+ 3=0
𝑥=−3
𝑃 ( −3 ) =¿−27 −2 ( 9 ) +33 +12
𝑃 ( −3 ) =¿−2 7 − 18+33+ 12

𝑃 ( −3 ) =0

Since , thus is a factor of the given polynomial.

Find k so that is a factor of .

is a factor is .
Solve for c

𝑥 −3=0
(3) − 𝑘 ( 3 ) − 2 ( 3 ) +3 ( 3 ) +9¿ 0
4 3 2
𝑥=3
81 −27 𝑘−2 ( 9 )+ 9+ 9=0
81 −27 𝑘−18 +18=0
81 −27 𝑘=0
− 81
−27 𝑘=− 81 𝑘=
− 27
𝑘= 3