Dividing polynomials

This PowerPoint presentation

demonstrates two different methods
of polynomial division.

© Kristen A. Treglia 2007

 Algebraic long division

Divide 2x³ + 3x² - x + 1 by x + 2

x + 2 is the x  2 2x 3  3x 2  x  1
divisor
2x³ + 3x² - x +
The quotient
1 is the dividend
will be here.
 Algebraic long division
First divide the first term of the dividend, 2x³,
by x (the first term of the divisor).

2x 2
This gives 2x².
This will be the x  2 2x 3  3x 2  x  1
first term of
the quotient.
 Algebraic long division

2x 2
Now multiply x  2 2x 3  3x 2  x  1
2x² by x + 2 2x 3  4x 2
and subtract x 2
 Algebraic long division

2x 2
x  2 2x 3  3x 2  x  1
2x 3  4x 2
Bring down the
next term, -x. x 2 x
 Algebraic long division

Now divide –x², 2x 2 x

the first term of x  2 2x 3  3x 2  x  1
–x² - x, by x, the
first term of the 2x 3
 4x 2

divisor x 2 x
which gives –x.
 Algebraic long division

2x 2 x
x  2 2x 3  3x 2  x  1
2x 3  4x 2
x 2 x
Multiply –x by x + 2 x 2  2x
and subtract x
 Algebraic long division

2x 2 x
x  2 2x 3  3x 2  x  1
2x 3  4x 2
x 2 x
Bring down the
next term, 1 x 2  2x
x 1
 Algebraic long division

2x 2 x 1
x  2 2x 3  3x 2  x  1
Divide x, the first 2x 3  4x 2
term of x + 1, by x, x 2 x
the first term of x 2  2x
the divisor
x 1
which gives 1
 Algebraic long division

2x 2 x 1
x  2 2x 3  3x 2  x  1
2x 3  4x 2
x 2 x
x 2  2x
Multiply x + 2 by 1 x 1
x 2
and subtract 1
 Algebraic long division

2x 2 x 1
x  2 2x 3  3x 2  x  1
The quotient is 2x 3  4x 2
2x² - x + 1 x 2 x
x 2  2x
x 1
The remainder is –1. x 2
1