5-4 Dividing

Polynomials

Objective
To divide Polynomials using long division
and synthetic division

Long Division divideapolynomialbyapolynomial

Howmanytimesdoesthedivisorgointothe
dividend?Putthatnumberontop.
Multiplythatnumberbythedivisorandputthe
resultunderthedividend.
Subtractandbringdownthenextnumberinthe
dividend.Repeatuntilyouhaveusedallthe
numbersinthedividend.

Divide the Polynomials

6x2 + 7x + 2 with 2x+1

x 5 x 24
4.
x3
2

Dividethe
polynomials

x 8
2

x 3 x 5x 24

(x2 +3x
)
2
x /x=x
8x 24
(8x 24)
8x/x=8
0

Divide the Polynomials

x3 + 3x2 x - 3 with x - 1

Your Turn
Divide 3x2 29x + 56 by x - 7

5.

11h 28 h 4
48
2
h +4h +5
h4
1

h 4 h 0h 11h 28

(h 4h
)
3
2
2 11h
h /h=h
4h 2
(4h 16h)
5h
+28
2
4h /h=4h
(5h 20
)
5h/h=5
48
3

Checking Factors
Is x2 + 1 a factor of 3x4 4x3 + 12x2 + 5?

Your Turn
Is x + 1 a factor of x3 + 4x2 + x 6?

SyntheticDivision
divideapolynomialbyapolynomial

Tousesyntheticdivision:
Theremustbeacoefficientfor
everypossiblepowerofthevariable.
Thedivisormusthavealeading
coefficientof1.

 5x

4 x x 6 ( x 3)
2

Step#1:Writethetermsofthe
polynomialsothedegreesarein
descendingorder.
4

5x 0x 4x x 6
Sincethenumeratordoesnot
containallthepowersofx,
3
youmustincludea0forthe x .

 5x

4 x x 6 ( x 3)
2

Step#2:Writetheconstantrofthe
divisorxrtotheleftandwrite
downthecoefficients.
4

5x 0x 4x x 6

3 5

Sincethedivisorisx3,r=3

 5x

4 x x 6 ( x 3)
2

Step#3:Bringdownthefirst
coefficient,5.

3 50 416
5

 5x

4x x 6

( x 3)

Step#4:Multiplythefirst
coefficientbyr,so 3 5 15
andplaceunderthesecond
coefficientthenadd.

3 50 416
15
5

15

 5x

4x x 6

( x 3)

Step#5:Repeatprocessmultiplying
thesum,15,byr; 15 3 45
andplacethisnumberunderthe
nextcoefficient,thenadd.

3 50 416
5

15

45

15

41

 5x

4x x 6

( x 3)

Step#5cont.:Repeatthesameprocedure.

Wheredid123and372comefrom?

3 50 416
5

15

45

123 372

15

41 124 378

 5x

4x x 6

( x 3)

Step#6:Writethequotient.

Thenumbersalongthebottomarecoefficients
ofthepowerofxindescendingorder,starting
withthepowerthatisonelessthanthatofthe
dividend.

3 50 416
5

15

45

123 372

15

41 124 378

 5x

4x x 6

( x 3)

Thequotientis:

378
5x 15x 41x 124
x3
3

Remembertoplacethe
remainderoverthedivisor.

Ex7:

5x

21x 3x 4x 2x 2 x 4
4

Step#1:Powersareallaccounted
forandindescendingorder.
Step#2:Identifyrinthedivisor.
Sincethedivisorisx+4,r=4.

4 5 21 34 22

 5 x 21x 3 x 4 x 2 x 2 x 4
Step#3:Bringdownthe1stcoefficient.
Step#4:Multiplyandadd.
Step#5:Repeat.
5

4 5 21 34 22

20
1

4
1

4
0

0 8
2 10
5
10
4
3
2
5 x x x 2
x4

Use synthetic division to divide

x3 14x2 + 51x 54 by x + 2

Use synthetic division to divide

x3 57x + 56 by x - 7

Book Work
Turn to page 308 and answer the problems
9 16 on a separate sheet of paper.