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Polynomial
Long
Division
2

Polynomial Long Division

Divide : 2x3 + 5x2 - x + 6 by x + 3
Step 1: Write the problem using a division symbol

x 3 2 x3 5x 2 x 6
Step 2: Look at the first term on the outside and the inside

Step 3:The outside term (x) was multiplied by (something) to equal

(2x3), the inside term. We must figure out what that (something) was.
x times (what?) = 2x3

2x
?

x 3 2 x 5x x 6
3

Put 2x2 on
the top

Well, we started with one x and we ended up with x3,

so we picked up two more xs or x2.
Also, we now have a 2 that we didnt have before.

So, the term we are looking for is 2x2

Multiply the term

2x2
you just wrote on x 3 2 x 3 5 x 2
top by the outside
3
2
2x
+
6x
terms.

2x2(x + 3)
= 2x3 + 6x2

x6

(This answer will be written in

the next line, under the correct
powers)

Be sure to
change the
signs of
every term.

The next step is

subtraction so we
have: -(2x3 + 6x2)

= -2x3-

6x2
5

Subtract
(The first terms
should always
cancel out)

2x2 - x

x 3 2 x3 5x 2 x 6
Bring down
-2x3 - 6x2
- x2 - x the next term

Now we will repeat the whole

process again.
Step 1: look at the first
terms

Step 2: what did we multiply the outside

term by to get the inside term.
Step 3: Write this term on top

2x2 - x

x 3 2 x3 5x 2 x 6
3
2
Bring down
-2x
6x
Subtract
Be term
sure to
- x2 - x the next
(The first terms
should always
change the
2
+
x
+
3x
cancel out)
signs of
Step 4: Multiply this new
+ 2x + 6 every term.
term by the outside terms

Step 5: Change the signs &

write the answer under the
current inside term

ANSWER IS ON TOP
Repeat Steps 1-5
Step 1: Look at
first terms
Step 2: What did
we multiply by?
Step 3: Write this
above the line
Step 4: Multiply
new term by
outside terms
Step 5: Change
signs & subtract

2x2 - x + 2

x 3 2 x3 5x 2 x 6
-2x3 - 6x2
- x2 - x
2
+
x
+ 3x
Subtract
(The first terms
+ 2x + 6
should always
cancel out)
- 2x - 6
0

Be sure to
change
the signs
of every
term.

Polynomial Long Division

Divide : 3x5 - 17x4 - 15x3 + 4x + 54x2 - 24 by x - 6
PROBLEM: Terms out of descending order

x 6 3 x 5 17 x 4 15 x 3 54 x 2 4 x 24
SOLUTION: Rearrange terms into descending order

Polynomial Long Division

Divide : 3x5 - 17x4 - 15x3 + 54x2 + 4x - 24 by x - 6
Step 1: Write the problem using a division symbol

x 6 3 x 17 x 15 x 54 x 4 x 24
5

Step 2: Look at the first term on the outside and the inside

10

Step 3:The outside term (x) was multiplied by (something) to equal

(3x5), the inside term. We must figure out what that (something) was.
x times (what?) = 3x5

Put 3x4 on
the top

3x
?4
5
4
3
2
x 6 3 x 17 x 15 x 54 x 4 x 24
Well, we started with one x and we ended up with x5,
so we picked up four more xs or x4.
Also, we now have a 3 that we didnt have before.

So, the term we are looking for is 3x4

11

Multiply the term you just wrote on top

by the outside terms.

3x4(x - 6)
= 3x5 - 18x4

3x4

x 6 3 x 17 x 15 x 54 x 4 x 24
- 18x4
- 3x5 +
5

The next step is

subtraction so we
have: -(3x5 - 18x4)

= -3x5+

Be sure to
change the
signs of
every term.

18x4
12

Subtract
(The first terms
should always
cancel out)

3x4 + x3

x 6 3 x 5 17 x 4 15 x 3 54 x 2 4 x 24
-3x5+ 18x4
Bring down
+ x4 - 15x3 the next term

Now we will repeat the whole

process again.
Step 1: look at the first
terms

Step 2: what did we multiply the outside

term by to get the inside term.
Step 3: Write this term on top

13

3x4 + x3
x 6 3 x 17 x 15 x 54 x 4 x 24
5
4
Bring down
-3x
+
18x
Subtract
sure to
+ x4 - 15x3 the nextBeterm
(The first terms
should always
change the
4
3
x
+
6x
cancel out)
signs of
Step 4: Multiply this new
- 9x3 + 54x2 every term.
5

term by the outside terms

Step 5: Change the signs &

write the answer under the
current inside term

14

Repeat Steps 1-5

3x4 + x3 - 9x2

x 6 3 x 17 x 15 x 54 x 4 x 24
5
4
-3x
+
18x
Bring down
Step 2: What did
we multiply by?
+ x4 - 15x3 the next term
Step 3: Write this
4
3
x
+
6x
Subtract
above the line
(The first terms
3
2
9x
+
54x
Step 4: Multiply should always
cancel out)
- 9x3 - 54x2
new term by
outside terms
2
0x
+
4x
Step 5: Change
Step 1: Look at
first terms

signs & subtract

Be sure to
change the
signs of
every term.

15

Repeat Steps 1-5

3x4 + x3 - 9x2 + 0x

x 6 3 x 17 x 15 x 54 x 4 x 24
5
4
-3x
+
18x
Step 2: What did
Bring down
we multiply by?
+ x4 - 15x3
the next term
Step 3: Write this
4
3
x
+
6x
above the line
3
2
9x
+
54x
Step 4: Multiply
- 9x3 - 54x2
new term by
Subtract
outside terms
2
(The first terms
+
0x
+
4x
always
Step 5: Change
Be should
sure
to
2
cancel
out)
0x
+ 0x
signs & subtract
change the
+ 4x - 24
signs of
Step 1: Look at
first terms

every term.
16

ANSWER IS ON TOP
Repeat Steps 1-5

3x4 + x3 - 9x2 + 0x + 4

x 6 3 x 17 x 15 x 54 x 4 x 24
5
4
-3x
+
18x
Step 2: What did
we multiply by?
+ x4 - 15x3
Step 3: Write this
4
3
x
+
6x
above the line
3
2
9x
+
54x
Step 4: Multiply
- 9x3 - 54x2
new term by
outside terms
2
+
0x
+
4x
Step 5: Change
signs & subtract
Subtract- 0x2 + 0x
(The first terms
+ 4x - 24
should
Be sure
to always
cancel out)
change
the
- 4x + 24
signs of every
0 17
term.
Step 1: Look at
first terms

The division problems we just

worked ended with zero
remainders.
Now lets work a problem that
ends with a remainder thats not
a zero.
Well also throw in a couple of
fractions so you can see how
they are handled.
18

Polynomial Long Division

Divide : 6x - 3x 4

17
2

x - 5 by 2x - 3

Step 1: Write the problem using a division symbol

2 x 3 6 x 3x 172 x 5
4

This polynomial (inside) has a power missing (x2).

This is a common occurrence in polynomial long
division problems.
Watch out for missing powers!

19

Polynomial Long Division

Divide : 6x - 3x 4

17
2

x - 5 by 2x - 3

PROBLEM: Missing the x2 term

2 x 3 6 x 3 x 0 x 172 x 5
4

SOLUTION: Insert the missing power with a zero

coefficient

20

Polynomial Long Division

Divide : 6x - 3x 4

17
2

x - 5 by 2x - 3

Step 1: Write the problem using a division symbol

2 x 3 6 x 3 x 0 x 172 x 5
4

Step 2: Look at the first term on the outside and the inside

21

Step 3:The outside term (x) was multiplied by (something) to equal

(6x4), the inside term. We must figure out what that (something) was.
x times (what?) = 6x4
3
3
Put
3x
on
3x
?
the top
4
3
2
17
2 x 3 6 x 3x 0 x 2 x 5

Well, we started with one x and we ended up with x4,

so we picked up three more xs or x3.
Also, the 2 changed into a 6, so we multiplied by 3.

So, the term we are looking for is 3x3

22

3x3
2 x 3 6 x 3x 0 x 172 x 5
- 6x4 +- 9x3
4

Multiply the term

you just wrote on The next step is
top by the outside subtraction so we
terms.
have: -(6x4 - 9x3)

3x3(2x - 3)
= 6x4 - 9x3

Be sure to
change the
signs of every
term.

= - 6x4 + 9x3

23

Subtract
(The first terms
should always
cancel out)

3x3 + 3x2

2 x 3 6 x 3x 0 x 172 x 5
Bring down
-6x4 + 9x3
6x3 + 0x2 the next term

Now we will repeat the whole

process again.
Step 1: look at the first
terms

Step 2: what did we multiply the outside

term by to get the inside term.
Step 3: Write this term on top

24

3x3 + 3x2

2 x 3 6 x 4 3 x 3 0 x 2 172 x 5
4
3
Bring down
-6x
+
9x
Subtract
3
Be term
sure to
2 the next
(The first terms
6x
+
0x
should always
change the
cancel out)
- 6x3 + 9x2
signs of
17
Step 4: Multiply this new + 9x2 x every term.
2
term by the outside terms

Step 5: Change the signs &

write the answer under the
current inside term

25

Repeat Steps 1-5

Step 1: Look at
first terms
Step 2: What did
we multiply by?
Step 3: Write this
above the line
Step 4: Multiply
new term by
outside terms
Step 5: Change
signs & subtract

3x3 + 3x +

9
2x

2 x 3 6 x 4 3x 3 0 x 2 172 x 5
Bring down
-6x4 + 9x3
the next term
6x3 + 0x2
3
2
6x
+
9x
Subtract
Be sure to
17
(The first terms
2
+
9x
- 2 x change the
should always
cancel out)
signs of
2 27
- 9x + 2 x every
5x - 5 term.

If the coefficient of the outside term, 2x, does not

go evenly into the coefficient of the inside term, 9x2,
then the number that goes on top will be:
(inside/outside)= 9/2

26

Repeat Steps 1-5

Step 1: Look at
first terms

ANSWER IS ON TOP
9
5
5
3x3 + 3x + 2 x + 2 + 2x-3

2 x 3 6 x 3 x 0 x 172 x 5
DIVISOR
-6x4 + 9x3
Be sure to
3
Step 3: Write this
6x + 0x2
change the
above the line
- 6x3 + 9x2
sign of
Step 4: Multiply
2 17
+ 9x - 2 x every term.
new term by
outside terms
2 27
9x
+ 2x
Subtract
Step 5: Change
(The first terms
5x - 5
signs & subtract
should always
15
cancel out)
- 5x + 2
Step 2: What did
we multiply by?

No more terms
to bring down,
REMAINDER
this (5) is the remainder

The remainder is written as a fraction. the

remainder over the divisor (outside polynomial)

27

Practice Problems: (Hit enter to see the answers)

Divide using Polynomial Long Division
1) 15x + 22x - 5 by 3x + 5
2

2) 12x2 - 32x - 35 by 2x - 7
3) 4x3 - 2x - x2 + 6 by x - 2
4) 3x3 - 5x2 - 23x - 7 by 3x + 1
5) 5x3 + 2x - 3 by x - 2

Answers:
1) 5x - 1
2) 6x + 5
3) 4x2 + 7x + 12 +

30
x2

4) x2 - 2x - 7
41
5) 5x2 + 10x + 22 + x 2

28

End of Tutorial
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29