Chapter 2 :

Polynomial Functions
Polynomial Functions
• A polynomial function is a function that involves only non-negative integer powers or only
positive integer exponents of a variable in an equation

Types of Polynomial Functions

1. Linear Function – a first degree polynomial function defined by 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏. The graph of
linear function is a straight line
2. Quadratic Function – a second degree polynomial function defined by 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐.
The graph of quadratic function is a parabola.
3. Cubic Function
4. Quintic Function
 Lesson #6:
Mathematics Long Division
Division of Polynomials using Long division

2
𝑥+3 𝑥 + 4𝑥 + 5

𝑥 + 3 is the divisor
𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 5 is the dividend
Steps in dividing polynomials using long division:
Step 1: Arrange the dividend and the divisor In decreasing powers of exponent.
(Note: Insert zeros as a coefficient of the missing term of each polynomials in each
term.
Step 2: Divide the first term of the dividend by the first term of the divisor.
Step 3: Multiply the partial quotient to the divisor
Step 4: Subtract the result from the dividend
Step 5: Bring down the next term in the dividend
Step 6: Repeat step 2 to 5, until done.
 Example #1: Divide 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 10 by 𝑥 + 2
𝑥+2 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 10
Step 1: Arrange the dividend and the divisor In decreasing
powers of exponent. (Note: Insert zeros as a coefficient of the
𝑥 + 2 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 10
missing term of each polynomials in each term.
𝑥
Step 2: Divide the first term of the dividend by the first term 𝒙𝟐
𝒙 + 2 𝒙𝟐 − 3𝑥 − 10
of the divisor. 𝒙
𝑥
Step 3: Multiply the partial quotient to the divisor 𝑥 + 2 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 10
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥
𝑥
Step 4: Subtract the result from the dividend
𝑥 + 2 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 10
− 2
𝑥 + 2𝑥
 Example #1: Divide 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 10 by 𝑥 + 2
𝑥+2 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 10
𝑥
Step 4: Subtract the result from the dividend
𝑥 + 2 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 10
− 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥
−5𝑥
−3𝑥 − +2𝑥
−3𝑥 − 2𝑥 = −5𝑥
𝑥
Step 5: Bring down the next term in the dividend
𝑥 + 2 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 10
− 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥
−5𝑥 − 10
 Example #1: Divide 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 10 by 𝑥 + 2 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟏𝟎
=𝒙−𝟓
𝑥+2 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 10 𝒙+𝟐
𝑥
Step 5: Bring down the next term in the dividend
𝑥 + 2 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 10
− 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥
−5𝑥 − 10

𝑥−5
Step 6: Repeat step 2 to 5, until done.
𝑥 + 2 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 10
 Divide the first term of the dividend by the first −𝟓𝒙 − 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥
term of the divisor. 𝒙 −5𝑥 − 10
−
 Multiply the partial quotient to the divisor −5𝑥 − 10
 Subtract the result from the dividend 0
 Bring down the next term in the dividend
 Example #2: Divide −4𝑥 2 + 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 − 6 by 𝑥 − 2
𝑥 − 2 −4𝑥 2 + 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 − 6
Step 1: Arrange the dividend and the divisor In decreasing
powers of exponent. (Note: Insert zeros as a coefficient of the 𝑥 − 2 𝑥 3 −4𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 6
missing term of each polynomials in each term.

Step 2: Divide the first term of the dividend by the first term 𝟑
𝒙 𝑥2
𝒙 − 2 𝒙𝟑 −4𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 6
of the divisor. 𝒙
𝑥2
Step 3: Multiply the partial quotient to the divisor
𝒙 − 2 𝒙𝟑 −4𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 6
𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2
𝑥2
Step 4: Subtract the result from the dividend
𝒙 − 2 𝒙𝟑 −4𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 6
- 𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2
 Example #2: Divide −4𝑥 2 + 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 − 6 by 𝑥 − 2
𝑥 − 2 −4𝑥 2 + 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 − 6
𝑥2
𝒙 − 2 𝒙𝟑 −4𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 6
− 𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2
Step 4: Subtract the result from the dividend −2𝑥 2
−4𝑥 2 − −2𝑥 2
−4𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 2 = −2𝑥 2

Step 5: Bring down the next term in the dividend 𝑥2

𝒙 − 2 𝒙𝟑 −4𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 6
− 𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2
−2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥
 Example #2: Divide −4𝑥 2 + 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 − 6 by 𝑥 − 2
𝑥 − 2 −4𝑥 2 + 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 − 6
Step 5: Bring down the next term in the dividend 𝑥2
𝒙 − 2 𝒙𝟑 −4𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 6
− 𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2
−2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥
𝑥 2 − 2𝑥
Step 6: Repeat step 2 to 5, until done.
𝒙 − 2 𝑥 3 −4𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 6
 Divide the first term of the dividend by the − 𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2
first term of the divisor. −𝟐𝒙𝟐
−𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 3𝑥
 Multiply the partial quotient to the divisor 𝒙 − −2𝑥 2 + 4𝑥
 Subtract the result from the dividend −𝑥 − 6
 Bring down the next term in the dividend
−2𝑥 2 − (−2𝑥 2 ) 3𝑥 − (4𝑥)
−2𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 2 = 0 3𝑥 − 4𝑥 = −𝑥
 Example #2: Divide −4𝑥 2 + 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 − 6 by 𝑥 − 2
𝑥 − 2 −4𝑥 2 + 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 − 6
Step 6: Repeat step 2 to 5, until done. 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 1
𝒙 − 2 𝑥 3 −4𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 6
 Divide the first term of the dividend by the − 𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2
first term of the divisor. −2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥
 Multiply the partial quotient to the divisor − −2𝑥 2 + 4𝑥
 Subtract the result from the dividend −𝒙 − 6
 Bring down the next term in the dividend − −𝑥 + 2
−𝒙
= −𝟏 −8
𝒙

−𝑥 − (−𝑥) − 6 − (2)
−𝑥 + 𝑥 = 0 −6 − 2 = −8
 Example #2: Divide −4𝑥 2 + 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 − 6 by 𝑥 − 2
𝑥 − 2 −4𝑥 2 + 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 − 6
Step 6: Repeat step 2 to 5, until done. 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 1
𝒙 − 2 𝑥 3 −4𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 6
 Divide the first term of the dividend by the − 𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2
first term of the divisor. −2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥
 Multiply the partial quotient to the divisor − −2𝑥 2 + 4𝑥
 Subtract the result from the dividend −𝒙 − 6
 Bring down the next term in the dividend − −𝑥 + 2
−8

2
8
𝑥 − 2𝑥 − 1 −
𝑥−2
 Example #3: Divide 27𝑥 3 + 8 by 3𝑥 + 2
3𝑥 + 2 27𝑥 3 + 8 𝟗𝒙𝟐 − 𝟔𝒙 + 𝟒
Steps in dividing polynomials using long
division:
Step 1: Arrange the dividend and the divisor In 9𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 4
decreasing powers of exponent. (Note: Insert 27𝑥 3
3𝑥
= 9𝑥 2 3𝑥 + 2 27𝑥 3 + 0𝑥 2 + 0𝑥 + 8
zeros as a coefficient of the missing term of − 27𝑥 3 + 18𝑥 2
each polynomials in each term.)
0𝑥 2 − (18𝑥 2 )
Step 2: Divide the first term of the dividend by
= −18𝑥 2 −18𝑥 2 + 0𝑥
the first term of the divisor. − −18𝑥 2 − 12𝑥
Step 3: Multiply the partial quotient to the −18𝑥 2
= −6𝑥
divisor 3𝑥 12𝑥 + 8
Step 4: Subtract the result from the dividend 12𝑥 − 12𝑥 + 8
Step 5: Bring down the next term in the = −4
3𝑥
dividend 0
Step 6: Repeat step 2 to 5, until done.
 Example #4: Divide 2𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 − 1 by 𝑥 − 3
𝑥 − 3 2𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 − 1
Steps in dividing polynomials using long
division:
Step 1: Arrange the dividend and the divisor In 2𝑥 + 1
decreasing powers of exponent. (Note: Insert 2𝑥 2
𝑥
= 2𝑥 𝑥 − 3 2𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 − 1
zeros as a coefficient of the missing term of
each polynomials in each term.)
− 2𝑥 2 − 6𝑥
−5𝑥 − (−6𝑥)
Step 2: Divide the first term of the dividend by 𝑥−1
−5𝑥 + 6𝑥 = 𝑥
the first term of the divisor. −
Step 3: Multiply the partial quotient to the −1 − −3 𝑥−3
−1 + 3 = 2
divisor 2
Step 4: Subtract the result from the dividend
Step 5: Bring down the next term in the 𝟐
dividend 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏 +
Step 6: Repeat step 2 to 5, until done. 𝒙−𝟑