Long Division Of Polynomials

Related Pages
Polynomial Basics
Polynomial Equation Word Problems
More Algebra Lessons

Division of one polynomial by another requires a process somewhat like long division in arithmetic. Now, however, we will use polynomials instead of just numerical values.

The following diagram shows an example of polynomial division using long division. Scroll down the page for more examples and solutions on polynomial division.

Example:
Evaluate (x² + 10x + 21) ÷ (x + 7) using long division.

Solution:
(x² + 10x + 21) is called the dividend and (x + 7) is called the divisor.

Step 1: Divide the first term of the dividend with the first term of the divisor and write the result as the first term of the quotient.

Step 2: Multiply that term with the divisor.

Step 3: Subtract and write the result to be used as the new dividend.

Step 4: Divide the first term of this new dividend by the first term of the divisor and write the result as the second term of the quotient.

Step 5: Multiply that term and the divisor and write the result under the new dividends.

Step 6: Subtract to get the remainder.

Note that it also possible that the remainder of a polynomial division may not be zero.

Example:
Evaluate (23y² + 9 + 20y³ – 13y) ÷ (2 + 5y² – 3y)

Solution:

You may want to look at the lesson on synthetic division, a simplified form of long division.

Dividing Polynomials using Long Division
When dividing polynomials, we can use either long division or synthetic division to arrive at an answer. Using long division, dividing polynomials is easy. We simply write the fraction in long division form by putting the divisor outside of the bracket and the divided inside the bracket. After the polynomial division is set up, we follow the same process as long division with numbers.

Example:
(3x³ - 4x² + 2x - 1) ÷ (x + 1)

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Dividing Polynomials by Binomials

Example:
(x² + 5x + 6) ÷ (x + 1)

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Dividing Polynomials

Example:
(x² + 9x + 20) ÷ (x + 5)
(6x² + 7x - 20) ÷ (2x + 5)
(6x⁴ - 30x² + 24) ÷ (2x² - 8)
(3x⁵ + 4x³ - 5x + 8) ÷ (x² + 3)
(x⁵ + 2x⁴ + x³ - x² - 22x + 15) ÷ (x² + 2x - 3)

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How to divide polynomials using long division?

Examples:

1. (5x³ - 6x² - 28x - 2) ÷ (x + 2)
2. (x³ - 1) ÷ (x - 1)

How to do Long Division with Polynomials with remainder?

Examples:

1. (x² + 7x + 12) ÷ (x + 3)
2. (15x² + 26x + 8) ÷ (5x + 2)
3. (4x² + 8x - 5) ÷ (2x + 1)

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