Section 5.4 Dividing Polynomials
Review of Long Division What terms do we use to describe 672 and 21? Because the reminder is zero, we know that 21 is a factor of 672. How could you write 672 using the divisor and quotient?
Writing the ratio of: Writing P(x) in terms of the divisor, quotient, and remainder
Using long division to Divide polynomials
Is a factor of
Synthetic Division Synthetic division simplifies the long division by using only the zero of the divisor and the coefficients of the dividend Example 3:
The polynomial expresses the volume, in cubic inches, of a shadow box. What are the dimensions of the box if one side is x + 5?
Remainder Theorem If you divide a polynomial P(x) of degree n>1 by x – a, then the remainder is P(a) Example: What is the remainder when Is divided by x – 3? How many ways could you find the remainder? Which is most efficient?