Dividing Polynomials
Dividing a Polynomial by a Polynomial
To divide a polynomial with more than one term by another polynomial
with more than one term, we use polynomial long division.
This procedure is similar to one you may have used to divide whole
numbers in arithmetic.
Procedure —
To Divide a Polynomial by a Polynomial
| Step 1 |
Write the problem in long division form. Arrange the terms
of each polynomial in descending powers. If a term is
missing, add a term of the form 0xr, where r is the degree of
the missing term.
|
| Step 2 |
Divide the first term of the dividend by the first term of the
divisor.
|
| Step 3 |
Multiply the divisor by the term you found in Step 2.
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| Step 4 |
Subtract the expression you found in Step 3 from the
dividend.
|
| Step 5 |
Bring down the next term from the dividend.
|
| Step 6 |
Repeat Steps 2 through 5 until the degree of the remainder is
less than the degree of the divisor.
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| Step 7 |
Write the quotient. The quotient is the expression that
appears above the division symbol plus the fraction,
 , if one exists.
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Note:
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