5.

5 – Dividing Polynomials
Divide

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 5.4 – Apply the Remainder and
Factor Theorems
When you divide a polynomial f(x) by a divsor d(x),
you get a quotient polynomial q(x) and a remainder
polynomial r(x).

f(x) / d(x) = q(x) + r(x)/d(x)

The degree of the remainder must be less than the

degree of the divisor.

One way to divide polynomials is called

polynomial long division.
5.4 – Apply the Remainder and
Factor Theorems
Example 1:
Divide f(x) = x3 +5x2 – 7x + 2 by x – 2

What is the quotient and remainder??

5.4 – Apply the Remainder and
Factor Theorems
Example 1b:
Divide f(x) = x3 +3x2 – 7 by x2 – x – 2

What is the quotient and remainder????

 5.4 – Apply the Remainder and
Factor Theorems
Example 1c:
Divide f(x) = 3x4 – 5x3 + 4x – 6 by x2 – 3x + 5

What is the quotient and remainder???

 5.4 – Apply the Remainder and
Factor Theorems
Example 1d:
Divide f(x) = 3x3 + 17x2 + 21x – 11 by x + 3

What is the quotient and remainder???

5.4 – Apply the Remainder and
Factor Theorems
Example 2:
Is x2 + 1 a factor of 3x4 – 4x3 +12x2 + 5

How do you know??????????

 5.4 – Apply the Remainder and
Factor Theorems
Example 2b:
Is x – 2 a factor of P(x) = x5 – 32?? If it is, write
P(x) as a product of two factors.

How do you know??????????

 5.4 – Apply the Remainder and
Factor Theorems
Synthetic division simplifies the long-division
process for dividing by a linear expression
x – a. To use synthetic division, write the
coefficients (including zeros) of the polynomial
in standard form. Omit all variables and
exponents. For the divisor, reverse the sign
(use a). This allows you to add instead of
subtract throughout the process.
 5.4 – Apply the Remainder and
Factor Theorems
Example 3:
Divide f(x) = 2x3 + x2 – 8x + 5 by x + 3 using
synthetic division
 5.4 – Apply the Remainder and
Factor Theorems
Example 3b:
Divide f(x) = 2x3 + 9x2 + 14x + 5 by x – 3
using synthetic division
5.4 – Apply the Remainder and
Factor Theorems
 5.4 – Apply the Remainder and
Factor Theorems
Example 4:
Factor f(x) = 3x3 – 4x2 – 28x – 16 completely
given that x + 2 is a factor.
 5.4 – Apply the Remainder and
Factor Theorems
Example 4b:
Factor f(x) = 2x3 – 11x2 + 3x + 36 completely
given that x – 3 is a factor.
 5.4 – Apply the Remainder and
Factor Theorems
Example 5:
One zero of f(x) = x3 – 2x2 – 23x + 60 is x = 3.
What is another zero of f?
 5.4 – Apply the Remainder and
Factor Theorems
The Remainder Theorem provides a quick way
to find the remainder of a polynomial long
division problem.
 5.4 – Apply the Remainder and
Factor Theorems
Example 6:
Given that P(x) = x5 – 2x3 – x2 + 2, what is the
remainder when P(x) is divided by x – 3?
 5.4 – Apply the Remainder and
Factor Theorems
Example 6b:
Given that P(x) = x5 – 3x4 - 28x3+ 5x + 20, what
is the remainder when P(x) is divided by x + 4 ?