Dividing Polynomials

Learning Outcomes

  • Use long division to divide polynomials.
  • Use synthetic division to divide polynomials.
Lincoln Memorial.

Figure 1. Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C. (credit: Ron Cogswell, Flickr)

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.

[latex]\begin{align}V&=l\cdot w\cdot h \\ &=61.5\cdot 40\cdot 30 \\ &=73,800 \end{align}[/latex]

So the volume is 73,800 cubic meters [latex]\left(\text{m}{^3} \right)[/latex]. Suppose we knew the volume, length, and width. We could divide to find the height.

[latex]\begin{align}h&=\frac{V}{l\cdot w} \\ &=\frac{73,800}{61.5\cdot 40} \\ &=30 \end{align}[/latex]

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 [latex]3{x}^{4}-3{x}^{3}-33{x}^{2}+54x[/latex]. The length of the solid is given by 3x; the width is given by [latex]x - 2[/latex]. To find the height of the solid, we can use polynomial division, which is the focus of this section.

Use 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.
Long Division. Step 1, 5 times 3 equals 15 and 17 minus 15 equals 2. Step 2: Bring down the 8. Step 3: 9 times 3 equals 27 and 28 minus 27 equals 1. Answer: 59 with a remainder of 1 or 59 and one-third.

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.

[latex]\begin{align}\text{dividend}&= \left(\text{divisor }\cdot \text{ quotient}\right)\text{ + remainder} \\ 178&=\left(3\cdot 59\right)+1 \\ &=177+1 \\ &=178 \end{align}[/latex]

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 [latex]2{x}^{3}-3{x}^{2}+4x+5[/latex] by [latex]x+2[/latex] using the long division algorithm, it would look like this:
Set up the division problem. 2x cubed divided by x is 2x squared. Multiply the sum of x and 2 by 2x squared. Subtract. Then bring down the next term. Negative 7x squared divided by x is negative 7x. Multiply the sum of x and 2 by negative 7x. Subtract, then bring down the next term. 18x divided by x is 18. Multiply the sum of x and 2 by 18. Subtract.

We have found

[latex]\frac{2{x}^{3}-3{x}^{2}+4x+5}{x+2}=2{x}^{2}-7x+18-\frac{31}{x+2}[/latex]

or

[latex]2{x}^{3}-3{x}^{2}+4x+5=\left(x+2\right)\left(2{x}^{2}-7x+18\right)-31[/latex]

We can identify the dividend, the divisor, the quotient, and the remainder.

The dividend is 2x cubed minus 3x squared plus 4x plus 5. The divisor is x plus 2. The quotient is 2x squared minus 7x plus 18. The remainder is negative 31.

Writing the result in this manner illustrates the Division Algorithm.

A General Note: The Division Algorithm

The Division Algorithm states that, given a polynomial dividend [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex] and a non-zero polynomial divisor [latex]d\left(x\right)[/latex] where the degree of [latex]d\left(x\right)[/latex] is less than or equal to the degree of [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex], there exist unique polynomials [latex]q\left(x\right)[/latex] and [latex]r\left(x\right)[/latex] such that

[latex]f\left(x\right)=d\left(x\right)q\left(x\right)+r\left(x\right)[/latex]

[latex]q\left(x\right)[/latex] is the quotient and [latex]r\left(x\right)[/latex] is the remainder. The remainder is either equal to zero or has degree strictly less than [latex]d\left(x\right)[/latex].

If [latex]r\left(x\right)=0[/latex], then [latex]d\left(x\right)[/latex] divides evenly into [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex]. This means that, in this case, both [latex]d\left(x\right)[/latex] and [latex]q\left(x\right)[/latex] are factors of [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex].

How To: Given a polynomial and a binomial, use long division to divide the polynomial by the binomial.

  1. Set up the division problem.
  2. Determine the first term of the quotient by dividing the leading term of the dividend by the leading term of the divisor.
  3. Multiply the answer by the divisor and write it below the like terms of the dividend.
  4. Subtract the bottom binomial from the top binomial.
  5. Bring down the next term of the dividend.
  6. Repeat steps 2–5 until reaching the last term of the dividend.
  7. If the remainder is non-zero, express as a fraction using the divisor as the denominator.

Example 1: Using Long Division to Divide a Second-Degree Polynomial

Divide [latex]5{x}^{2}+3x - 2[/latex] by [latex]x+1[/latex].

Example 2: Using Long Division to Divide a Third-Degree Polynomial

Divide [latex]6{x}^{3}+11{x}^{2}-31x+15[/latex] by [latex]3x - 2[/latex].

Try It

Divide [latex]16{x}^{3}-12{x}^{2}+20x - 3[/latex] by [latex]4x+5[/latex].

Try It

Use 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 [latex]2{x}^{3}-3{x}^{2}+4x+5[/latex] by [latex]x+2[/latex] 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 of the polynomial 2x^3-3x^2+4x+5 by x+2 in which it only contains the coefficients of each polynomial.

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.

Synthetic division of the polynomial 2x^3-3x^2+4x+5 by x+2 in which it only contains the coefficients of each polynomial.

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 [latex]2x{^2} -7x+18[/latex] and the remainder is –31. The process will be made more clear in Example 3.

A General Note: Synthetic Division

Synthetic division is a shortcut that can be used when the divisor is a binomial in the form x – k. In synthetic division, only the coefficients are used in the division process.

How To: Given two polynomials, use synthetic division to divide.

  1. Write k for the divisor.
  2. Write the coefficients of the dividend.
  3. Bring the lead coefficient down.
  4. Multiply the lead coefficient by k. Write the product in the next column.
  5. Add the terms of the second column.
  6. Multiply the result by k. Write the product in the next column.
  7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for the remaining columns.
  8. 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.

Example 3: Using Synthetic Division to Divide a Second-Degree Polynomial

Use synthetic division to divide [latex]5{x}^{2}-3x - 36[/latex] by [latex]x - 3[/latex].

Example 4: Using Synthetic Division to Divide a Third-Degree Polynomial

Use synthetic division to divide [latex]4{x}^{3}+10{x}^{2}-6x - 20[/latex] by [latex]x+2[/latex].

Example 5: Using Synthetic Division to Divide a Fourth-Degree Polynomial

Use synthetic division to divide [latex]-9{x}^{4}+10{x}^{3}+7{x}^{2}-6[/latex] by [latex]x - 1[/latex].

Try It

Use synthetic division to divide [latex]3{x}^{4}+18{x}^{3}-3x+40[/latex] by [latex]x+7[/latex].

Try It

Use 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.

Example 6: Using Polynomial Division in an Application Problem

The volume of a rectangular solid is given by the polynomial [latex]3{x}^{4}-3{x}^{3}-33{x}^{2}+54x[/latex]. The length of the solid is given by 3x and the width is given by x – 2. Find the height of the solid.

Try It

The area of a rectangle is given by [latex]3{x}^{3}+14{x}^{2}-23x+6[/latex]. The width of the rectangle is given by x + 6. Find an expression for the length of the rectangle.

Key Equations

Division Algorithm [latex]f\left(x\right)=d\left(x\right)q\left(x\right)+r\left(x\right)[/latex] where [latex]q\left(x\right)\ne 0[/latex]

Key Concepts

  • Polynomial long division can be used to divide a polynomial by any polynomial with equal or lower degree.
  • 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 x – k.
  • Polynomial division can be used to solve application problems, including area and volume.

Glossary

Division Algorithm
given a polynomial dividend [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex] and a non-zero polynomial divisor [latex]d\left(x\right)[/latex] where the degree of [latex]d\left(x\right)[/latex] is less than or equal to the degree of [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex], there exist unique polynomials [latex]q\left(x\right)[/latex] and [latex]r\left(x\right)[/latex] such that [latex]f\left(x\right)=d\left(x\right)q\left(x\right)+r\left(x\right)[/latex] where [latex]q\left(x\right)[/latex] is the quotient and [latex]r\left(x\right)[/latex] is the remainder. The remainder is either equal to zero or has degree strictly less than [latex]d\left(x\right)[/latex].
synthetic division
a shortcut method that can be used to divide a polynomial by a binomial of the form x – k
  1. National Park Service. "Lincoln Memorial Building Statistics." http://www.nps.gov/linc/historyculture/lincoln-memorial-building-statistics.htm. Accessed 4/3/2014 ↵