Algebra: Chapter 10, Lesson 9, page 465.
Dividing Polynomials
To divide a polynomial by a monomial, divide each term by that monomial.
For example:
`(6x^2 + 3x – 2)/3` becomes `(6x^2)/3 + (3x)/3 -2/3` or simplifying terms, we have
`2x^2 + x – 2/3`
If the divisor is not a monomial, then we need to use long (I call it synthetic from my ‘oldness’) division. It is just like regular division but takes a little getting use to.
A tip is that the quotient should be in descending order and you need to include the missing terms by sticking in ZEROES.
If the quotient is `x^3-x+1`, I would re-write it as `x^3+0x^2+0x^1+1`. Practice makes perfect. Examples 3, 4 and 5 on pages 465 and 466 are pretty easy to follow.
Here is a link from purplemath.com for more clarification.