Chapter 1.3: Dividing Polynomials
Learning Objectives
In this section, you will:
- Use long division to divide polynomials.
- Use synthetic division to divide polynomials.
The exterior of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., is a large rectangular solid with length 61.5 meters (m), width 40 m, and height 30 m. [1] We can easily find the volume using elementary geometry.
So the volume is 73,800 cubic meters
Suppose we knew the volume, length, and width. We could divide to find the height.
As we can confirm from the dimensions above, the height is 30 m. We can use similar methods to find any of the missing dimensions. We can also use the same method if any, or all, of the measurements contain variable expressions. For example, suppose the volume of a rectangular solid is given by the polynomial
The length of the solid is given by
the width is given by
To find the height of the solid, we can use polynomial division, which is the focus of this section.
Using Long Division to Divide Polynomials
We are familiar with the long division algorithm for ordinary arithmetic. We begin by dividing into the digits of the dividend that have the greatest place value. We divide, multiply, subtract, include the digit in the next place value position, and repeat. For example, let’s divide 178 by 3 using long division.
Another way to look at the solution is as a sum of parts. This should look familiar, since it is the same method used to check division in elementary arithmetic.
We call this the Division Algorithm and will discuss it more formally after looking at an example.
Division of polynomials that contain more than one term has similarities to long division of whole numbers. We can write a polynomial dividend as the product of the divisor and the quotient added to the remainder. The terms of the polynomial division correspond to the digits (and place values) of the whole number division. This method allows us to divide two polynomials. For example, if we were to divide
by
using the long division algorithm, it would look like this:
We have found
or
We can identify the dividend, the divisor, the quotient, and the remainder.
Writing the result in this manner illustrates the Division Algorithm.
The Division Algorithm
The Division Algorithm states that, given a polynomial dividend and a non-zero polynomial divisor where the degree of is less than or equal to the degree of , there exist unique polynomials and such that is the quotient and is the remainder. The remainder is either equal to zero or has degree strictly less than If then divides evenly into This means that, in this case, both
and are factors of
How To
Given a polynomial and a binomial, use long division to divide the polynomial by the binomial.
- Set up the division problem.
- Determine the first term of the quotient by dividing the leading term of the dividend by the leading term of the divisor.
- Multiply the answer by the divisor and write it below the like terms of the dividend.
- Subtract the bottom binomial from the top binomial.
- Bring down the next term of the dividend.
- Repeat steps 2–5 until reaching the last term of the dividend.
- If the remainder is non-zero, express as a fraction using the divisor as the denominator.
Using Long Division to Divide a Second-Degree Polynomial
Divide by
Show Solution
The quotient is The remainder is 0. We write the result as
or
Analysis
This division problem had a remainder of 0. This tells us that the dividend is divided evenly by the divisor, and that the divisor is a factor of the dividend.
Using Long Division to Divide a Third-Degree Polynomial
Divide by
Show Solution
There is a remainder of 1. We can express the result as:
Analysis
We can check our work by using the Division Algorithm to rewrite the solution. Then multiply.
Notice, as we write our result,
- the dividend is
- the divisor is
- the quotient is
- the remainder is
Try It
Divide by
Show Solution
Using Synthetic Division to Divide Polynomials
As we’ve seen, long division of polynomials can involve many steps and be quite cumbersome. Synthetic division is a shorthand method of dividing polynomials for the special case of dividing by a linear factor whose leading coefficient is 1.
To illustrate the process, recall the example at the beginning of the section.
Divide by using the long division algorithm.
The final form of the process looked like this:
There is a lot of repetition in the table. If we don’t write the variables but, instead, line up their coefficients in columns under the division sign and also eliminate the partial products, we already have a simpler version of the entire problem.
Synthetic division carries this simplification even a few more steps. Collapse the table by moving each of the rows up to fill any vacant spots. Also, instead of dividing by 2, as we would in division of whole numbers, then multiplying and subtracting the middle product, we change the sign of the “divisor” to –2, multiply and add. The process starts by bringing down the leading coefficient.
We then multiply it by the “divisor” and add, repeating this process column by column, until there are no entries left. The bottom row represents the coefficients of the quotient; the last entry of the bottom row is the remainder. In this case, the quotient is and the remainder is The process will be made more clear in (Figure).
Synthetic Division
Synthetic division is a shortcut that can be used when the divisor is a binomial in the form where is a real number.
In synthetic division, only the coefficients are used in the division process.
How To
Given two polynomials, use synthetic division to divide.
- Write for the divisor.
- Write the coefficients of the dividend.
- Bring the lead coefficient down.
- Multiply the lead coefficient by Write the product in the next column.
- Add the terms of the second column.
- Multiply the result by Write the product in the next column.
- Repeat steps 5 and 6 for the remaining columns.
- Use the bottom numbers to write the quotient. The number in the last column is the remainder and has degree 0, the next number from the right has degree 1, the next number from the right has degree 2, and so on.
Using Synthetic Division to Divide a Second-Degree Polynomial
Use synthetic division to divide
by
Show Solution
Begin by setting up the synthetic division. Write and the coefficients.
Bring down the lead coefficient. Multiply the lead coefficient by
Continue by adding the numbers in the second column. Multiply the resulting number by Write the result in the next column. Then add the numbers in the third column.
The result is The remainder is 0. So is a factor of the original polynomial.
Analysis
Just as with long division, we can check our work by multiplying the quotient by the divisor and adding the remainder.
Using Synthetic Division to Divide a Third-Degree Polynomial
Use synthetic division to divide by
Show Solution
The binomial divisor is so
Add each column, multiply the result by –2, and repeat until the last column is reached.
The result is The remainder is 0. Thus, is a factor of
Analysis
The graph of the polynomial function in (Figure) shows a zero at This confirms that is a factor of
Using Synthetic Division to Divide a Fourth-Degree Polynomial
Use synthetic division to divide by
Show Solution
Notice there is no x-term. We will use a zero as the coefficient for that term.
The result is
Try It
Use synthetic division to divide
by
Show Solution
Using Polynomial Division to Solve Application Problems
Polynomial division can be used to solve a variety of application problems involving expressions for area and volume. We looked at an application at the beginning of this section. Now we will solve that problem in the following example.
Using Polynomial Division in an Application Problem
The volume of a rectangular solid is given by the polynomial The length of the solid is given by and the width is given by
Find the height, of the solid.
Show Solution
There are a few ways to approach this problem. We need to divide the expression for the volume of the solid by the expressions for the length and width. Let us create a sketch as in (Figure).
We can now write an equation by substituting the known values into the formula for the volume of a rectangular solid.
To solve for first divide both sides by
Now solve for using synthetic division.
The quotient is and the remainder is 0. The height of the solid is
Try It
The area of a rectangle is given by The width of the rectangle is given by
Find an expression for the length of the rectangle.
Show Solution
Access these online resources for additional instruction and practice with polynomial division.
Key Equations
Division Algorithm |
Key Concepts
- Polynomial long division can be used to divide a polynomial by any polynomial with equal or lower degree. See (Figure) and (Figure).
- The Division Algorithm tells us that a polynomial dividend can be written as the product of the divisor and the quotient added to the remainder.
- Synthetic division is a shortcut that can be used to divide a polynomial by a binomial in the form
See (Figure), (Figure), and (Figure). - Polynomial division can be used to solve application problems, including area and volume. See (Figure).
Section Exercises
Verbal
1. If division of a polynomial by a binomial results in a remainder of zero, what can be conclude?
Show Solution
The binomial is a factor of the polynomial.
2. If a polynomial of degree is divided by a binomial of degree 1, what is the degree of the quotient?
Algebraic
For the following exercises, use long division to divide. Specify the quotient and the remainder.
3.
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For the following exercises, use synthetic division to find the quotient. Ensure the equation is in the form required by synthetic division. (Hint: divide the dividend and divisor by the coefficient of the linear term in the divisor.)
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For the following exercises, use synthetic division to determine whether the first expression is a factor of the second. If it is, indicate the factorization.
38.
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Yes
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Yes
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No
Graphical
For the following exercises, use the graph of the third-degree polynomial and one factor to write the factored form of the polynomial suggested by the graph. The leading coefficient is one.
44. Factor is
45. Factor is
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46. Factor is
47. Factor is
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48. Factor is
For the following exercises, use synthetic division to find the quotient and remainder.
49.
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Technology
For the following exercises, use a calculator with CAS to answer the questions.
54. Consider with What do you expect the result to be if
55. Consider for What do you expect the result to be if
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56. Consider for What do you expect the result to be if
57. Consider with What do you expect the result to be if
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58. Consider with What do you expect the result to be if
Extensions
For the following exercises, use synthetic division to determine the quotient involving a complex number.
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Real-World Applications
For the following exercises, use the given length and area of a rectangle to express the width algebraically.
64. Length is area is
65. Length is area is
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66. Length is area is
For the following exercises, use the given volume of a box and its length and width to express the height of the box algebraically.
67. Volume is length is width is
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68. Volume is length is width is
69. Volume is length is width is
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70. Volume is length is width is
71. For the following exercises, use the given volume and radius of a cylinder to express the height of the cylinder algebraically.
72. Volume is radius is
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73. Volume is radius is
74. Volume is radius is
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Glossary
- Division Algorithm
- given a polynomial dividend and a non-zero polynomial divisor where the degree of is less than or equal to the degree of , there exist unique polynomials and such that where is the quotient and is the remainder. The remainder is either equal to zero or has degree strictly less than
- synthetic division
- a shortcut method that can be used to divide a polynomial by a binomial of the form
- National Park Service. "Lincoln Memorial Building Statistics." http://www.nps.gov/linc/historyculture/lincoln-memorial-building-statistics.htm. Accessed 4/3/2014 ↵