ALGEBRA

Division. Let P and D be algebraic expressions. If P is divided by D, where then we call P the
dividend and D the divisor ( .
Example: Perform the indicated operation and simplify.
5 2 2
10 x −4 x +20 x
1. 2
−2 x
5 2 2 5 3 2
10 x −4 x +20 x 10 x 4x 20 x 3
Solution: 2
= 2
− 2
+ 2
=−5 x +2
−2 x −2 x −2 x −2 x

2. (81 x 2 y 3−27 x 3 y 2+ 9 x3 y 3 )÷ 3 x 2 y 2
2 3 3 2 3 3 2 2 3 2 3 3
81 x y −27 x y +9 x y 81 x y 27 x y 9 x y
Solution: 2 2
= 2 2 − 2 2
+ 2 2 =27 y −9 x+3 xy
3x y x y 3x y 3 x y
If the divisor consists of more than one term, use the “Long Division” method. We can follow the following
steps:
1. Arrange the terms of polynomial in descending order and use zero to fill in the missing term.
2. Divide the leading term of the dividend by the leading term of the divisor. Write the result
above the division symbol.
3. Multiply the result obtained to each term of the divisor and write down the result in the row
below the dividend in such a way that the like terms are one below the other.
4. Subtract the product from the dividend and write down the difference in the next row below.
5. The last difference is the remainder and must be written as a fraction form in the final
answer and is added to the quotients obtained.

Example: Perform the following operations using long division.

4 3 2
2 x + 2 x −4 x + 2 x−2 3 2
Thus, =2 x + 4 x +2
x−1

1. (x2 – 2x – 15) ÷ (x + 3)
x−5
x +3 √ x −2 x−15
2

- ( x 2 +3 x )
5 x−15
- (−5 x−15)
0
 Answer: x−5

3 2
2 x +3 x −17 x+12
2.
2 x−3

2
x + 3 x −4
2x - 3√ 2 x 3 +3 x 2−17 x+ 12
2
6 x −3 x ¿
2
Answer: 2
x + 3 x −4
2
−(6 x −9 x)
−8 x +12
−(8 x+12)
0

Synthetic Division
To divide a polynomial we follow the procedure below known
as synthetic division.
1. List a and the coefficients of P(x) in descending powers of x in the first row. Use zero coefficients
for missing powers of x.
2. Bring down the first coefficient of P(x) to third row. Leave enough space for the second row.
3. Multiply the first entry of the third row by a, and write the product in the second row directly below
the second coefficient of P(x). Add this product and the second coefficient of P(x) and write the
result on the third row, second column. Repeat this process until the last coefficient of P(x).
4. The last entry of the last row is the remainder, and the preceding entries are the numerical
coefficients of the quotient which has degree one less than the degree of the dividend P(x).

Example: Use synthetic division to obtain the quotient of the following:

1. 1 2 2 -4 2 -2
2 4 0 2
2 4 0 2 0

4 3 2
2 x + 2 x −4 x + 2 x−2 3 2
Thus, =2 x + 4 x +2
x−1

5 3 2
2. (5 x + 4 x +28 x −25 x−5)÷( x +2)

-2 5 0 4 28 -25 -5
-10 20 -48 40 -30
5 -10 24 -20 15 -35
 5 3 2
5 x + 4 x +28 x −25 x−5 4 3 2 40
Thus, =5 x −10 x +24 x −20 x +15−
x +2 x +2