DIVISION OF POLYNOMIALS

Let us consider the numbers 13 and 5. When 13 is divided by 5 what is the quotient and remainder?

Yes, of course, the quotient is 2 and the remainder is 3. We write 13 = (5x2) + 3 Let us try.

Dividend = (Divisor x Quotient) + Remainder

From the above examples, we observe that the remainder is less than the divisor.

Division Algorithm for Polynomials

Let p(x) and g(x) be two polynomials such that

degree of p(x) ≥ degree of g(x)

and g(x) ≠ 0. Then there exists unique polynomials q(x) and r(x) such that

p(x) = g(x) ⋅ q(x) + r(x)

where r(x) = 0 or degree of r(x) < degree of g(x).

The polynomial p(x) is the Dividend, g(x) is the Divisor, q(x) is the Quotient and r(x) is the Remainder. Now (1) can be written as

Dividend = (Divisor x Quotient ) + Remainder

If r(x) is zero, then we say p(x) is a multiple of g(x). In other words, g(x) divides p(x).

If it looks complicated, don’t worry! it is important to know how to divide polynomials, and that comes easily with practice. The examples below will help you.

Example 1 :

Dividie (x³ - 4x² + 6x) by x, where x ≠ 0.

Solution :

Example 2 :

Find the quotient and the remainder when

(5x² - 7x + 2) ÷ (x - 1)

Solution :

We can use polynomial long division to get the quotient amd remainder when (5x² - 7x + 2) is divided by (x - 1).

Quotient = 5x - 2

Remainder = 0

Video Lesson

Examples 3-4 : Find quotient and the remainder when f(x) is divided by g(x).

Example 3 :

f(x) = 8x³ - 6x² + 15x - 7, g(x) = 2x + 1

Solution :

Quotient = 4x² - 5x + 10

Remainder = -17

Example 4 :

f(x) = x⁴ - 3x³ + 5x² - 7, g(x) = x² + x + 1

Solution :

Quotient = x² - 4x + 8

Remainder = -4x - 15

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DIVISION OF POLYNOMIALS

Division Algorithm for Polynomials

Video Lesson

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