Polynomial and Synthetic

Division
 What you should learn
• How to use long division to divide
polynomials by other polynomials
• How to use synthetic division to divide
polynomials by binomials of the form
(x – k)
• How to use the Remainder Theorem and the
Factor Theorem
 1. x goes into x3? x2 times.
x  2x  6
2 2. Multiply (x-1) by x2.
3 2 3. Change sign, Add.
x 1 x  x  4x  6 4. Bring down 4x.
33 22
xx  xx 5. x goes into 2x2? 2x times.

2 6. Multiply (x-1) by 2x.

0  2x  4x 7. Change sign, Add
22
2 x  2 x 8. Bring down -6.
9. x goes into 6x? 6 times.
 0  6x  6 10. Multiply (x-1) by 6.
6 x 
6 11. Change sign, Add .

0
 Long Division.
x 5
2
x  3 x  8 x  15
2
Check x  3x
( x  3)( x  5) 5 x  15
2
 x  5 x  3 x  15 5 x 
15
2
 x  8 x  15 0
 x 3x 9
2
Divide. 3 2
x  3 x  0 x  0 x  27
3 2
3
x  27 x  3x
2
x3 3x  0 x
2
3 x   9x
3
9 x  27
x  3 x  27 9 x  27
0
Long Division.
x 2
2
x  4 x  2x  8
2
Check x  4x
( x  2)( x  4) 2x  8
2
 x  4x  2x  8 22xx 88
2
 x  2x  8 0
Example
2
p  2 p  20 44
= p  4 
p6 2
p  6
p  6 p  2 p  20
22
Check pp 66pp
 44 
( p  6)( p  4)  ( p  6)   4 p  20
 p6
4 p 
 24
2
 p  4 p  6 p  24  44 44
2
 p  2 p  20
 p  2 p  20  p  4  44
2

p6 p6
f ( x) r ( x)
 q( x) 
d ( x) d ( x)
44
p  2 p  20   p  4  p  6  
2
( p  6)
p6
p  2 p  20   p  4  p  6   44
2

f ( x)  d ( x)q( x)  r ( x)
 The Division Algorithm
If f(x) and d(x) are polynomials such that d(x) ≠ 0,
and the degree of d(x) is less than or equal to the
degree of f(x), there exists a unique polynomials
q(x) and r(x) such that

f ( x)  d ( x)q( x)  r ( x)
Where r(x) = 0 or the degree of r(x) is less than
the degree of d(x).
 Proper and Improper
f ( x) r ( x)
 q( x) 
d ( x) d ( x)
• Since the degree of f(x) is more than or equal
to d(x), the rational expression f(x)/d(x) is
improper.
• Since the degree of r(x) is less than than d(x),
the rational expression r(x)/d(x) is proper.
 Synthetic Division
Divide x4 – + 0x3 -10x2 – 2x + 4 by x + 3
-3 1 0 -10 -2 4
-3 +9 3 -3

1 -3 -1 1 1
4 2
x  10 x  2 x  4 3 2 1
 x  3x  x  1 
x3 x3
 Long Division.

1 -2 -8 x 1
3 2
x  3 x  2x  8
3 3 2
x   3x
1 1 -5
x 8
x3
2
f ( x)  x  2 x  8 5
2
f (3)  (3)  2(3)  8
 968
 5
 The Remainder Theorem
If a polynomial f(x) is divided by x – k, the
remainder is r = f(k). x
1
2
2
f ( x)  x  2 x  8 x  3 x  2x  8
2
2
f (3)  (3)  2(3)  8 x   3x
 968 x 8
 5 x3
5
 The Factor Theorem
A polynomial f(x) has a factor (x – k) if and only
if f(k) = 0.
Show that (x – 2) and (x + 3) are factors of
f(x) = 2x4 + 7x3 – 4x2 – 27x – 18

+2 2 7 -4 -27 -18
4 22 36 18

2 11 18 9 0
 Show that (x – 2) and (x + 3) are factors of
f(x) = 2x4 + 7x3 – 4x2 – 27x – 18

+2 2 7 -4 -27 -18
4 22 36 18

-3 2 11 18 9
-6 -15 -9
2 5 3 0 2 x 4  7 x 3  4 x 2  27 x  18
(2 x 3  11x 2  18 x  9)( x  2)
(2 x 2  5 x  3)( x  2)( x  3)
Example 6 continued
(2 x  3)( x  1)( x  2)( x  3)
 Uses of the Remainder in Synthetic
Division
The remainder r, obtained in synthetic division
of f(x) by (x – k), provides the following
information.
1. r = f(k)
2. If r = 0 then (x – k) is a factor of f(x).
3. If r = 0 then (k, 0) is an x intercept of the
graph of f.
 Fun with SYN and the TI-83
2
f ( x)  x  8 x  15 f (3) 

• Use SYN program to calculate f(-3)

• [STAT] > Edit
• Enter 1, 8, 15 into L1, then [2nd][QUIT]
• Run SYN
• Enter -3
 Fun with SYN and the TI-83
4 3 2
f ( x)  15 x  10 x  6 x  14

• Use SYN program to calculate f(-2/3)

• [STAT] > Edit
• Enter 15, 10, -6, 0, 14 into L1, then [2 nd]
[QUIT]
• Run SYN
• Enter 2/3
 2.3 Homework
• 1-67 odd