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How do you divide polynomials using long division

1 Answer

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This is a simple example:-
x + 9
------------------------------
x - 1 ) x^2 + 8x - 9
x^2 - x subtract
------------
9x - 9
9x - 9
----------
..........

First divide x into x^2 to give x which goes above
Then multiply x - 1 by x to give x^2 - x

Subtract this fro x^2 + 8x gives 9x
Bring down the - 9 then divide x into 9x
and finally multiply x - 1 by 9 to give 9x - 9
Finally subtract and you sre done. There is no remainder as x - 1 is a factor of x^2 + 8x - 9.

The polynomial must be in descending powers of x . If one is missing you insert it with a coefficient of zero before you start the division.

for example if you have x^3 - 3x + 12 you write it as

x^2 + 0x^2 - 3x + 12


User Sami Korhonen
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