Polynomial

Division
Recall from arithmetic that

2 + 10 + 8
is the same as
2
2 10 8
+ +
2 2 2
This is a skill which we can apply to expressions like the
one you saw in the title slide of this presentation. There
was a polynomial 2x2+10x2+8x divided by a monomial of
2x. We can use the property from arithmetic above to
make it into three separate expressions:
3 2
2 x 10 x 8x
+ +
2x 2x 2x
 3 2
2 x 10 x 8x
+ +
2x 2x 2x
For each of the three expressions we have two things
to divide: numbers and variables. Let’s do the
numbers first……
1 5 4
3 2
2 x 10 x 8x
+ +
2x 2x 2x
1 1 1
This leaves us with:

3 2
1x 5x 4x
+ +
1x 1x 1x
To simplify the variables we will need another
exponent property called the “Quotient of Powers
Property”
Let’s look at an example to help us understand this
property: 3
x
2
x
Now lets use what we know about exponents to expand the
situation.
x 3
x⋅x⋅x
=
x 2
x⋅x
Now since we know x/x = 1 we can cross out the common x’s
x⋅ x⋅ x
x⋅ x =x 1

This leaves us with one x1: The answer is x1 or x.

We could have just subtracted the exponents of x like
this: 3
x 3− 2
2
= x = x 1
=x
x

This brings us to the Quotient Powers Property:

m
a m− n
n
=a
a

When taking the quotient of powers with the same base,

simply subtract the exponents.
Now lets return to our problem: We started with….
2 x 3 10 x 2 8 x
+ +
2x 2x 2x

And then simplified it to……

2 x 3 10 x 2 8 x
+ +
2x 2x 2x

And then divided the coefficients to get…

1x 3 5x 2 4 x 1
1
+ 1+ 1
1x 1x 1x

Don’t forget that all the variables which have no exponents really
have exponents of 1. This makes it look like...
 1x 2 + 5x + 4

If we subtract our exponents in each part we get…..

3−1 2 −1 1−1
1x + 5x + 4x
Which simplifies to….

1x + 5x + 4 x
2 1 0

Recall that raising to a zero power means 1….

1x 2 + 5x + 4(1)

And finally we get: 1x 2 + 5x + 4

Try This

 Divide x3 by x

3
x 3−1
=x =x 2

x
Practice

 Divide 6x5 by 3x3

2
5
6x 5−3
3
= 2 x = 2 x 2

3x
1
Try This
 Divide 28a9 ÷ 4a3

Solution on the next page

Solution

Divide 28a9 ÷ 4a3

9 9
28a 7a 9−3
3
= 3
= 7 a = 7 a 6

4a 1a
Try This
 Divide: (20n4-15n3+35n2)÷5n2

 solution on next slide

Solution:
20n − 15n + 35n
4 3 2

5n 2
20n 4 15n 3 35n 2
= 2
− 2 + 2
5n 5n 5n

4n 4 3n 3 7n 2
= 2 − 2+ 2
1n 1n 1n
4−2 3− 2 2−2
= 4n − 3n + 7n
= 4n − 3n + 7n
2 1 0

= 4n 2 − 3n1 + 7(1)

= 4n − 3n + 7
2
Last One…

32n − 24n + 40n

5 4 3

3
8n
SOLUTION:

32n5 − 24n 4 + 40n 3

8n 3
32n5 24n 4 40n 3
= 3
− 3
+
8n 8n 8n 3

5− 3 4−3 3− 3
= 4n − 3n + 5n
= 4n − 3n + 5n
2 1 0

= 4n 2 − 3n1 + 5(1)

= 4n 2 − 3n + 5