DIVISION ALGORITHM

AND SYNTHETIC
DIVISION
 Division Algorithm
Example 1: Divide by .

Quotient
Divide the first term of the dividend by
the first term of the divisor
Multiply 3x to the divisor
Divide -5x by the first term of the
divisor
Multiply -5 to the divisor
Remainder

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 2

 Division Algorithm
Example 2: Divide by .

Arrange the terms of the dividend in

decreasing powers of the variable.

Observe if the powers of the variable are consecutive integers.

If not, then there is/are missing term/s.
For the missing term, insert 0 as its Use this as
coefficient. dividend

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 3

 Division Algorithm
Continuation of Example 2:
Proceed to the division process.
Quotient
Divide the first term of the dividend by
the first term of the divisor
Multiply to the divisor
Divide by the first term of the
divisor
Multiply to the divisor
Divide by the first term of the
divisor
Multiply to the divisor
Divide by the first term of the
divisor
Multiply 2 to the divisor
Remainder
Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 4
 Division Algorithm
Continuation of Example 2:

The result can be written in

fractional form:
Remainder

Quotient Divisor

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 5

 Division Algorithm
If P(x) and D(x) are polynomials, with D(x) ≠ 0 and the degree of D(x) is less
than or equal to the degree of P(x), then there exist unique polynomials Q(x) and
R(x), where R(x) is either 0 or of degree less than the degree of D(x), such that
P(x) = D(x) • Q(x) + R(x)
The polynomials P(x) and D(x) are called the dividend and divisor, respectively,
Q(x) is the quotient, and R(x) is the remainder.

From the previous example:

P(x) D(x) Q(x) R(x)

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 6

 Division Algorithm
Example 3: Divide by .
Write the answer in P(x) = D(x) • Q(x) + R(x) form.
Solution: Quotient

Divisor

Remainder
Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 7
 Division Algorithm
Continuation of Example 3:
Divide by
.
Write the answer in P(x) = D(x) • Q(x) + R(x) form.
Answer:

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 8

 Division Algorithm: Exercises

Use long division to divide the following polynomials.

Write your answer in the form .

1. Divide P(x) = by D(x)= .

2. Divide P(x) = by D(x) =
.
3. Divide P(x) = by D(x) =
.

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 9

 Division Algorithm: Exercises
1. Divide P(x) = by D(x)= .

Solution:

Answer:

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 10

 Division Algorithm: Exercises
2. Divide P(x) = by D(x) =
.
Solution:

Answer:

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 11

 Division Algorithm: Exercises
3. Divide P(x) = by D(x) = .

Solution:

Answer:

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 12

 Synthetic Division
- another method to divide polynomial by a binomial of the form x - c
Example 1: Divide by .
Are the powers of variable consecutive integers? No

Arrange the terms of the dividend in

decreasing powers of the variable.

What needs to be done if there is/are missing term/s?

For the missing term, insert 0 as its
coefficient.

Get the numerical coefficients of the

dividend.

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 13

 Synthetic Division
- another method to divide polynomial by a binomial in the form x – c.

Example 1: Divide by .

Numerical coefficients
of the dividend

Multiply

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 14

 Synthetic Division
- another method to divide polynomial by a binomial in the form x – c.

Example 1: Divide by .

Multiply

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 15

 Synthetic Division
- another method to divide polynomial by a binomial in the form x – c.

Example 1: Divide by .

Multiply

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 16

 Synthetic Division
- another method to divide polynomial by a binomial in the form x – c.

Example 1: Divide by .

Multiply

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 17

 Synthetic Division
- another method to divide polynomial by a binomial in the form x – c.

Example 1: Divide by .

Numerical coefficients
Remainder
of the Quotient
Add the literal coefficients
The degree of the
quotient is one less Quotient
than the degree of
the dividend.

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 18

 Synthetic Division

Example 2: Use synthetic division to divide by .

Verify your answer by using long division.
Solution: Verification:

Answer:

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 19

 Synthetic Division

Example 3: Use synthetic division to divide by .

Verify your answer by using long division.

Solution:

Answer:

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 20

 Synthetic Division

Example 3: Use synthetic division to divide by .

Verify your answer by using long division.
Answer: Verification:

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 21

 Synthetic Division: Exercises

Use synthetic division to divide the following polynomials.

Write your answer in the form .

Verify your answer using long division.

1. Divide by .
2. Divide by .

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 22

 Synthetic Division: Exercises

1. Divide by .

Solution: Verification:

Answer:

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 23

 Synthetic Division: Exercises

2. Divide by .

Solution:

Answer:

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 24

 Synthetic Division: Exercises

2. Divide by .

Answer: Verification:

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 25

 Synthetic Division
Synthetic division can also be used to divide polynomials by a divisor
of the form ax - c.
Example 1: Divide by .

Note that

Divide P(x) by :

Remainder
Add the literal
coefficients
Quotient

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 26

 Synthetic Division
Synthetic division can also be used to divide polynomials by a divisor
of the form ax - c.
Example 1: Divide by .
Q(x) = R(x) =
Recall P(x) = D(x) • Q(x) + R(x)

Since P(x) is divided by but ,

multiply by 2 and by

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 27

 Synthetic Division
Synthetic division can also be used to divide polynomials by a divisor
of the form ax - c.
Example 1: Divide by .

P(x) = D(x) • Q(x) + R(x)

Answer:

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 28

 Synthetic Division
Synthetic division can also be used to divide polynomials by a divisor
of the form ax - c.
Example 1: Divide by .
Answer: Verification:

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 29

 Synthetic Division: Exercises

Use synthetic division to divide the following polynomials.

Write your answer in the form .

Verify your answer using long division.

1. Divide by
.
2. Divide by
.
3. Divide by .

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 30

 Synthetic Division: Exercises

1. Divide by
.
Note that

Divide P(x) by :

Remainder
Add the literal
coefficients

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 31

 Synthetic Division: Exercises

Cont. 1. Divide by
.
Q(x) = 30x – 42 R(x) = 0
Recall P(x) = D(x) • Q(x) + R(x)
= (3x – 2)(30x – 42)

Since P(x) is divided by but ,

multiply by 3 and 30x – 42 by

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 32

 Synthetic Division: Exercises

Cont. 1. Divide by
.

P(x) = D(x) • Q(x) + R(x)

Answer:

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 33

 Synthetic Division: Exercises

Cont. 1. Divide by
.
Answer: Verification:

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 34

 Synthetic Division: Exercises

2. Divide by
.
Note that

Divide P(x) by :

Remainder
Add the literal
coefficients

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 35

 Synthetic Division: Exercises

Cont. 2. Divide by
.
Q(x) = R(x) = 0
Recall P(x) = D(x) • Q(x) + R(x)

Since P(x) is divided by but ,

multiply by 2 and by

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 36

 Synthetic Division: Exercises

Cont. 2. Divide by .

P(x) = D(x) • Q(x) + R(x)

Answer:

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 37

 Synthetic Division: Exercises

Cont. 2. Divide by
.
Answer: Verification:

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 38

 Synthetic Division: Exercises

3. Divide by .

Note that

Divide P(x) by :

Remainder

Add the literal coefficients

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 39

 Synthetic Division: Exercises

Cont. 3. Divide by .
Q(x) = R(x) =

Recall P(x) = D(x) • Q(x) + R(x)

Since P(x) is divided by but ,

multiply by 3 and by

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 40

 Synthetic Division: Exercises

Cont. 3. Divide by .

P(x) = D(x) • Q(x) + R(x)

Answer: or

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 41

 Verification:

Cont. 3.
Answer:

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 42

 Synthetic Division
Synthetic division can also be used to divide polynomials by a
quadratic divisor of the form .
Example 1: Divide by .

Negative coefficients Numerical coefficients

of the divisor of the dividend

Multiply

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 43

 Synthetic Division
Synthetic division can also be used to divide polynomials by a
quadratic divisor of the form .
Example 1: Divide by .

Multiply

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 44

 Synthetic Division
Synthetic division can also be used to divide polynomials by a
quadratic divisor of the form .
Example 1: Divide by .

Multiply

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 45

 Synthetic Division
Synthetic division can also be used to divide polynomials by a
quadratic divisor of the form .
Example 1: Divide by .

Quotient Remainder

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 46

 Synthetic Division
Synthetic division can also be used to divide polynomials by a
quadratic divisor of the form .
Example 1: Divide by .
Quotient: Verification:
Remainder:

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 47

 Synthetic Division: Exercises

Use synthetic division to divide the following polynomials.

Write your answer in the form .

Verify your answer using long division.

1. Divide by .

2. Divide by .

3. Divide by .

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 48

 Synthetic Division: Exercises

1. Divide by .

Quotient Remainder

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 49

 Synthetic Division: Exercises

Cont. 1. Divide by .

Answer: Verification:

Quotient:
Remainder:

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 50

 Synthetic Division: Exercises

2. Divide by .

Quotient Remainder

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 51

 Synthetic Division: Exercises

Cont. 2. Divide by .

Quotient: Verification:
Remainder:

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 52

 Synthetic Division: Exercises

3. Divide by .

Note that

Divide P(x) by 1 and :

Quotient Remainder

or

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 53

 Synthetic Division: Exercises

Cont. 3. Divide by .
Q(x) = R(x) =
Recall P(x) = D(x) • Q(x) + R(x)

Since P(x) is divided by but ,

multiply by 2 and by

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 54

 Synthetic Division: Exercises

Cont. 3. Divide by .

P(x) = D(x) • Q(x) + R(x)

Answer:

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 55

 Synthetic Division: Exercises

Cont. 3. Divide by .
Answer: Verification:

Quotient:
Remainder:

Division Algorithm and Synthetic Division 56