Lesson 6-3 Dividing Polynomials

Recall Remember Long Division? We can do the same thing for polynomials.

Example (x² + 6x + 8)/(x + 4)

Recall Sometimes the answer isn’t a whole number. Remember remainders? Example. We can do the same thing for polynomials.

Example (x³ + 6x² + 11x + 8)/(x + 2)

Assignment Page 324 Numbers 1-8. Put your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

Synthetic Division Simplifies the polynomial division process by focusing only on the coefficients. This method only works when you are dividing by +1x and a number.

Synthetic Division Process Copy the coefficients of the numerator under a division symbol, and switch the sign on number in the denominator outside of the division symbol. Carry down the first number. Multiply the bottom number by the switched denominator number, and bring that to the position under the next number in the numerator. Add, and keep repeating the steps. The final bottom number is the remainder.

Example (2x4 - 1x3 - 7x² - 3x + 10)/(x - 2)

Assignment Page 324 Numbers 13-20. Put your answers on a separate sheet of paper.