 Long division of polynomials works just like the long (numerical) division you did back in elementary school, except that now you're dividing with variables.  Example: Divide x 2 – 9x – 10 by x + 1  Set up the problem like a long division problem  Put the first variable from the outside (the divisor) into the first variable under the division sign

 Multiply the answer by the advisor and place the answer under the polynomial  Subtract the two terms from the polynomial  Bring down the constant and start the process all over again

 Put the first variable from the outside (the advisor) into the variable  Multiply the answer by the divisor and place the answer under the polynomial  Subtract and get a remainder of “ 0 ”

 When the remainder of the division problem is “0” that means that the divisor goes into the problem evenly and the answer is a factor of the problem  So x-10 is a factor of the trinomial: x 2 – 9x – 10 because x+1 goes into the trinomial evenly  The factors will be x+1 and x-10