2/12/2018 Long Division of Polynomials

Here are the steps required for Dividing by a Polynomial Containing More Than One Term (Long Division):

Step 1: Make sure the polynomial is written in descending order. If any terms are missing, use a zero to
fill in the missing term (this will help with the spacing).
Step 2: Divide the term with the highest power inside the division symbol by the term with the highest
power outside the division symbol.
Step 3: Multiply (or distribute) the answer obtained in the previous step by the polynomial in front of
the division symbol.
Step 4: Subtract and bring down the next term.
Step 5: Repeat Steps 2, 3, and 4 until there are no more terms to bring down.
Step 6: Write the final answer. The term remaining after the last subtract step is the remainder and must
be written as a fraction in the final answer.

Example 1 – Divide:

Step 1: Make sure the polynomial is written in

descending order. If any terms are missing, use a
zero to fill in the missing term (this will help with
the spacing). In this case, the problem is ready as
is.

Step 2: Divide the term with the highest power

inside the division symbol by the term with the
highest power outside the division symbol. In this
case, we have x3 divided by x which is x2.

Step 3: Multiply (or distribute) the answer

obtained in the previous step by the polynomial in
front of the division symbol. In this case, we need
to multiply x2 and x + 2.

Step 4: Subtract and bring down the next term.

Step 5: Divide the term with the highest power

inside the division symbol by the term with the
highest power outside the division symbol. In this
case, we have –6x2 divided by x which is –6x.

Step 6: Multiply (or distribute) the answer

obtained in the previous step by the polynomial in
front of the division symbol. In this case, we need
to multiply –6x and x + 2.

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Step 7: Subtract and bring down the next term.

Step 8: Divide the term with the highest power

inside the division symbol by the term with the
highest power outside the division symbol. In this
case, we have 14x divided by x which is +14.

Step 9: Multiply (or distribute) the answer

obtained in the previous step by the polynomial in
front of the division symbol. In this case, we need
to multiply 14 and x + 2.

Step 10: Subtract and notice there are no more

terms to bring down.

Step 11: Write the final answer. The term

remaining after the last subtract step is the
remainder and must be written as a fraction in the
final answer.

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Example 2 – Divide:

Step 1: Make sure the polynomial is written in

descending order. If any terms are missing, use a
zero to fill in the missing term (this will help with
the spacing). In this case, we should get:

Step 2: Divide the term with the highest power

inside the division symbol by the term with the
highest power outside the division symbol. In this
case, we have 4x3 divided by x2 which is 4x.

Step 3: Multiply (or distribute) the answer

obtained in the previous step by the polynomial in
front of the division symbol. In this case, we need
to multiply 4x and x2 + 3x – 2.

Step 4: Subtract and bring down the next term.

Step 5: Divide the term with the highest power

inside the division symbol by the term with the
highest power outside the division symbol. In this
case, we have –25x2 divided by x2 which is –25.

Step 6: Multiply (or distribute) the answer

obtained in the previous step by the polynomial in
front of the division symbol. In this case, we need
to multiply –25 and x2 + 3x – 2.

Step 7: Subtract and notice there are no more

terms to bring down.

Step 8: Write the final answer. The term

remaining after the last subtract step is the
remainder and must be written as a fraction in the
final answer.

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Example 3 – Divide:

Step 1: Make sure the polynomial is written in

descending order. If any terms are missing, use a
zero to fill in the missing term (this will help with
the spacing). In this case, we should get:

Step 2: Divide the term with the highest power

inside the division symbol by the term with the
highest power outside the division symbol. In this
case, we have 3x3 divided by x2 which is 3x.

Step 3: Multiply (or distribute) the answer

obtained in the previous step by the polynomial in
front of the division symbol. In this case, we need
to multiply 3x and x2 – 1.

Step 4: Subtract and bring down the next term.

Step 5: Divide the term with the highest power

inside the division symbol by the term with the
highest power outside the division symbol. In this
case, we have –2x2 divided by x2 which is –2.

Step 6: Multiply (or distribute) the answer

obtained in the previous step by the polynomial in
front of the division symbol. In this case, we need
to multiply –2 and x2 – 1.

Step 7: Subtract and notice there are no more

terms to bring down.

Step 8: Write the final answer. The term

remaining after the last subtract step is the
remainder and must be written as a fraction in the
final answer.

Click Here for Practice Problems

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Example 4 – Divide:

Step 1: Make sure the polynomial is written in

descending order. If any terms are missing, use a
zero to fill in the missing term (this will help with
the spacing). In this case, we should get:

Steps 2, 3, and 4: Divide the term with the

highest power inside the division symbol by the
term with the highest power outside the division
symbol. Next multiply (or distribute) the answer
obtained in the previous step by the polynomial in
front of the division symbol. In this case, we
should get 2x3/2x = x2 and x2(2x + 3). Finally,
subtract and bring down the next term.

Steps 5, 6, and 7: Divide the term with the

highest power inside the division symbol by the
term with the highest power outside the division
symbol. Next multiply (or distribute) the answer
obtained in the previous step by the polynomial in
front of the division symbol. In this case, we
should get 4x2/2x = 2x and 2x(2x + 3). Finally,
subtract and bring down the next term.

Steps 8, 9, and 10: Divide the term with the

highest power inside the division symbol by the
term with the highest power outside the division
symbol. Next multiply (or distribute) the answer
obtained in the previous step by the polynomial in
front of the division symbol. In this case, we
should get –4x/2x = –2 and –2(2x + 3). Finally,
subtract and notice there are no more terms to
bring down.

Step 11: Write the final answer. The term

remaining after the last subtract step is the
remainder and must be written as a fraction in the
final answer.

Click Here for Practice Problems

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2/12/2018 Long Division of Polynomials

Example 5 – Divide:

Step 1: Make sure the polynomial is written in

descending order. If any terms are missing, use a
zero to fill in the missing term (this will help with
the spacing). In this case, the problem is ready as
is.

Steps 2, 3, and 4: Divide the term with the

highest power inside the division symbol by the
term with the highest power outside the division
symbol. Next multiply (or distribute) the answer
obtained in the previous step by the polynomial in
front of the division symbol. In this case, we
should get x3/x2 = x and x(x2 + x – 6). Finally,
subtract and bring down the next term.

Steps 5, 6, and 7: Divide the term with the

highest power inside the division symbol by the
term with the highest power outside the division
symbol. Next multiply (or distribute) the answer
obtained in the previous step by the polynomial in
front of the division symbol. In this case, we
should get 2x2/x2 = 2 and 2(x2 + x – 6). Finally,
subtract and notice there are no more terms to
bring down.

Step 8: Write the final answer. The term

remaining after the last subtract step is the
remainder and must be written as a fraction in the
final answer. In this case, there is no remainder, so
you do not need to write the fraction.

Click Here for Practice Problems

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