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 Polynomial
Long Division
2
 Polynomial Long Division
Divide : 2x3 + 5x2 - x + 6 by x + 3
Step 1: Write the problem using a division symbol

x  3 2 x  5x  x  6
3 2

Step 2: Look at the first term on the outside and the inside

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 Step 3:The outside term (x) was multiplied by (something) to equal
(2x3), the inside term. We must figure out what that (something) was.

x times (what?) = 2x3 2x2

? Put 2x2 on
the top
x  3 2 x  5x  x  6
3 2

Well, we started with one x and we ended up with x3,

so we picked up two more x’s or x2.
Also, we now have a 2 that we didn’t have before.

So, the term we are looking for is 2x2

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Multiply the term 2x2
you just wrote on
top by the outside
x  3 2 x 3
 5 x 2
 x6 Be sure to
change the
terms. - 2x 3 + 6x2
signs of
2x2(x + 3) (This answer will be written in every term.
the next line, under the correct
= 2x3 + 6x2 powers)
The next step is
subtraction so we
have: -(2x3 + 6x2)

= -2x3- 6x2

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 Subtract
2x2 - x
(The first terms
should always
x  3 2 x  5x  x  6
3 2

cancel out)
-2x3 - 6x2 Bring down
- x2 - x the next term
Now we will repeat the whole Step 2: what did we multiply the outside
process again. term by to get the inside term.
Step 1: look at the first terms Step 3: Write this term on top

6
 2x2 - x
x  3 2 x  5x  x  6
3 2

-2x3 - 6x2 Bring down

Subtract
(The first terms - x2 - x the nextBe term
sure to
should always 2 change the
cancel out) + x + 3x signs of
Step 4: Multiply this new + 2x + 6 every term.
term by the outside terms
Step 5: Change the signs &
write the answer under the
current inside term

7
 ANSWER IS ON TOP
Repeat Steps 1-5
Step 1: Look at
2x2 - x + 2
first terms x  3 2 x  5x  x  6
3 2

Step 2: What did -2x3 - 6x2

we multiply by?
- x2 - x
Step 3: Write this 2 + 3x
above the line Subtract + x
Be sure to
Step 4: Multiply
(The first terms
should always
+ 2x + 6 change
new term by cancel out) - 2x - 6 the signs
outside terms
Step 5: Change 0 of every
signs & subtract term.

8
 Polynomial Long Division
Divide : 3x5 - 17x4 - 15x3 + 4x + 54x2 - 24 by x - 6
PROBLEM: Terms out of descending order

x  6 3x  17 x  15x  54 x  4 x  24
5 4 3 2

SOLUTION: Rearrange terms into descending order

9
 Polynomial Long Division
Divide : 3x5 - 17x4 - 15x3 + 54x2 + 4x - 24 by x - 6
Step 1: Write the problem using a division symbol

x  6 3x  17 x  15x  54 x  4 x  24
5 4 3 2

Step 2: Look at the first term on the outside and the inside

10
 Step 3:The outside term (x) was multiplied by (something) to equal
(3x5), the inside term. We must figure out what that (something) was.

x times (what?) = 3x5

Put 3x4 on
?4
3x the top
x  6 3x  17 x  15x  54 x  4 x  24
5 4 3 2

Well, we started with one x and we ended up with x5,

so we picked up four more x’s or x4.
Also, we now have a 3 that we didn’t have before.

So, the term we are looking for is 3x4

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 Multiply the term you just wrote on top
by the outside terms.
3x4(x - 6)
3x4 = 3x5 - 18x4
x  6 3x5  17 x 4  15x3  54 x 2  4 x  24
- 3x5 +- 18x4 Be sure to
The next step is change the
subtraction so we signs of
have: -(3x5 - 18x4) every term.

= -3x5+ 18x4
12
Subtract
3x4 + x3
(The first terms
should always
x  6 3x  17 x  15x  54 x  4 x  24
5 4 3 2

cancel out) -3x5+ 18x4 Bring down

+ x4 - 15x3 the next term
Now we will repeat the whole Step 2: what did we multiply the outside
process again. term by to get the inside term.
Step 1: look at the first terms Step 3: Write this term on top

13
 3x4 + x3
x  6 3x  17 x  15x  54 x  4 x  24
5 4 3 2

-3x 5+ 18x4 Bring down

Subtract
(The first terms + x4 - 15x3 the nextBeterm
sure to
should always 4 3 change the
cancel out) - x + 6x signs of
Step 4: Multiply this new - 9x3 + 54x2 every term.
term by the outside terms
Step 5: Change the signs &
write the answer under the
current inside term

14
Repeat Steps 1-5
3x4 + x3 - 9x2
Step 1: Look at
first terms x  6 3x5  17 x 4  15x3  54 x 2  4 x  24
-3x 5+ 18x4
Step 2: What did Bring down
we multiply by?
+ x4 - 15x3 the next term
Step 3: Write this 4 + 6x3
above the line Subtract - x
(The first terms
- 9x 3 + 54x2
Step 4: Multiply should always
new term by cancel out) - 9x3 - 54x2
outside terms
0x 2 + 4x
Step 5: Change Be sure to
signs & subtract
change the
signs of
every term.
15
Repeat Steps 1-5
3x4 + x3 - 9x2 + 0x
Step 1: Look at
first terms x  6 3x5  17 x 4  15x3  54 x 2  4 x  24
-3x 5+ 18x4
Step 2: What did Bring down
we multiply by?
+ x4 - 15x3 the next term
Step 3: Write this 4 + 6x3
above the line
- x
- 9x 3 + 54x2
Step 4: Multiply
new term by - 9x3 - 54x2
outside terms Subtract
(The first terms + 0x 2 + 4x
Step 5: Change Be should
sure always
to
signs & subtract cancel out) - 0x 2 + 0x
change the
signs of + 4x - 24
every term.
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 ANSWER IS ON TOP
Repeat Steps 1-5
3x4 + x3 - 9x2 + 0x + 4
Step 1: Look at
first terms x  6 3x5  17 x 4  15x3  54 x 2  4 x  24
-3x 5+ 18x4
Step 2: What did
we multiply by?
+ x4 - 15x3
Step 3: Write this 4 + 6x3
above the line
- x
- 9x 3 + 54x2
Step 4: Multiply
new term by - 9x3 - 54x2
outside terms
+ 0x 2 + 4x
Step 5: Change
signs & subtract Subtract- 0x2 + 0x
(The first terms
should
Be sure to always + 4x - 24
changecancel out)
the signs - 4x + 24
of every term. 0 17
The division problems we just
worked ended with zero
remainders.
Now let’s work a problem
that ends with a remainder
that’s not a zero.

We’ll also throw in a couple

of fractions so you can see
how they are handled.
18
 Polynomial Long Division
Divide : 6x4 - 3x3 - 172 x - 5 by 2x - 3
Step 1: Write the problem using a division symbol

2 x  3 6 x  3x  172 x  5
4 3

This polynomial (inside) has a power missing (x2).

This is a common occurrence in polynomial long
division problems.
Watch out for missing powers!

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 Polynomial Long Division
Divide : 6x4 - 3x3 - 172 x - 5 by 2x - 3
PROBLEM: Missing the x2 term

2 x  3 6 x  3x  0 x  172 x  5
4 3 2

SOLUTION: Insert the missing power with a zero

coefficient

20
 Polynomial Long Division
Divide : 6x4 - 3x3 - 172 x - 5 by 2x - 3
Step 1: Write the problem using a division symbol

2 x  3 6 x  3x  0 x  172 x  5
4 3 2

Step 2: Look at the first term on the outside and the inside

21
 Step 3:The outside term (x) was multiplied by (something) to equal
(6x4), the inside term. We must figure out what that (something) was.
x times (what?) = 6x4
3x3
? Put 3x3 on
the top
2 x  3 6 x  3x  0 x  172 x  5
4 3 2

Well, we started with one x and we ended up with x4,

so we picked up three more x’s or x3.
Also, the 2 changed into a 6, so we multiplied by 3.

So, the term we are looking for is 3x3

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 3x3
2 x  3 6 x 4  3x3  0 x 2  172 x  5 Be sure to
change the
- 6x4 +- 9x3 signs of every
Multiply the term term.
you just wrote on The next step is
top by the outside subtraction so we
terms. have: -(6x4 - 9x3)
3x3(2x - 3)
= 6x4 - 9x3 = - 6x4 + 9x3

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 Subtract 3x3 + 3x2
(The first terms
should always 2 x  3 6 x 4  3x3  0 x 2  172 x  5
cancel out)
-6x4 + 9x3 Bring down
6x3 + 0x2 the next term
Now we will repeat the whole Step 2: what did we multiply the outside
process again. term by to get the inside term.
Step 1: look at the first terms Step 3: Write this term on top

24
 3x3 + 3x2
2 x  3 6 x  3x  0 x  172 x  5
4 3 2

-6x 4 + 9x3 Bring down

Subtract
(The first terms 6x 3
+ 0x 2 the next
Be term
sure to
should always change the
cancel out) 3
- 6x + 9x 2
17 signs of
Step 4: Multiply this new + 9x2 - x every term.
term by the outside terms 2
Step 5: Change the signs &
write the answer under the
current inside term

25
Repeat Steps 1-5
Step 1: Look at 9
first terms 3x3 + 3x + 2x
Step 2: What did 2 x  3 6 x  3x  0 x  172 x  5
4 3 2
we multiply by?
-6x4 + 9x3 Bring down
Step 3: Write this 6x3 + 0x2 the next term
above the line 3 + 9x2
Subtract - 6x Be sure to
Step 4: Multiply 17
(The first terms
+ 9x 2- x
new term by should always 2 change the
outside terms cancel out) 27 signs of
2
- 9x + 2 x every
Step 5: Change
signs & subtract 5x - 5 term.
If the coefficient of the outside term, 2x, does not
go evenly into the coefficient of the inside term, 9x2,
then the number that goes on top will be:
(inside/outside)= 9/2 26
Repeat Steps 1-5 ANSWER IS ON TOP
Step 1: Look at 9 5 5
first terms 3x + 3x + 2 x + 2 + 2x-3
3

Step 2: What did 2 x  3 6 x  3x  0 x  172 x  5

4 3 2
we multiply by? DIVISOR
-6x4 + 9x3 Be sure to
Step 3: Write this 3
6x + 0x 2
above the line change the
- 6x3 + 9x2 sign of
Step 4: Multiply 17
new term by + 9x - 2 x every term.
2
outside terms
- 9x 2+ 27x
Step 5: Change Subtract 2
signs & subtract (The first terms
should always
5x - 5
cancel out) - 5x + 15
2
No more terms REMAINDER
to bring down, 5
this (5) is the remainder
The remainder is written as a fraction. the
remainder over the divisor (outside polynomial) 27
 Practice Problems: (Hit enter to see the answers)
Divide using Polynomial Long Division
Answers:
1) 15x2 + 22x - 5 by 3x + 5 1) 5x - 1
2) 12x2 - 32x - 35 by 2x - 7 2) 6x + 5 30
2
3) 4x + 7x + 12 +
3) 4x3 - 2x - x2 + 6 by x - 2 x2

4) 3x3 - 5x2 - 23x - 7 by 3x + 1 4) x2 - 2x - 7 41

5) 5x2 + 10x + 22 + x  2
5) 5x3 + 2x - 3 by x - 2

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