Division of Polynomial:

Using Synthetic
Division
Division Algorithm or Long Division
Example 1.
Divide (3𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 + 8) by (𝑥 + 2)
3𝑥 2 −2𝑥 +4
𝑥 + 2| 3𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 2 + 8
−(3𝑥 3 + 6𝑥 2 )
−2𝑥 2 + 8
− 2𝑥 2 − 4𝑥
4𝑥 + 8
− 4𝑥 + 8
0

The quotient is 3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 4
Synthetic Division
• It is the shorter procedure when a polynomial is
divided by a binomial in form (x-r).

Steps in using synthetic division

Use synthetic division in example 1. Divide (3𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 + 8) by (𝑥 + 2)

Step 1: Make sure that the DIVISOR is a BINOMIAL of the form (x-r).
The divisor x+2 will be x-(-2)
Step 2: Arrange the coefficients of the dividend in the descending
powers of x, placing 0s for the missing terms. The leading coefficient of
the dividend becomes the first entry of the third row.

The numerical coefficient are 3, 4, 0, and 8 respectively.

3 4 0 8

3
Step 3: Place the value of r in the upper left corner. In this example
x-r=x-(-2), so r=-2

-2 3 4 0 8

-6

3 -2

Step 4: The first number in the second row will be the product of r and
the number in third row. The second number in the third row is the sum
of the two numbers above it.
The product of r (-2) and the number in the third row (3) is -6
The second number in the third row will be -2 because it is the
sum of 4 and -6
Step 5: Repeat the procedure described in step 4 until the last number
obtained in the third row.

-2 3 4 0 8

-6 4 -8

3 -2 4 0

Step 6: Write the quotient. Note that the degree of the quotient is one
less than the degree of the dividend. The entries in the third row give the
coefficient of quotient and remainder R.
Quotient: 3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 4
Remainder: 0
Example 2.
Divide 6𝑥 5 − 𝑥 4 − 20𝑥 2 − 32𝑥 3 + 5𝑥 + 8 by 2𝑥 − 3

Step 1:
3
The divisor is 2x-3 when put in the form of x-r is 2(x- )
2

Step 2:
The numerical coefficient are 6, -1, -32, -20, 5 and 8 arrange in
decreasing power of x.

6 -1 -32 -20 5 8

6
Step 3:
Our divisor is 2(x-3/2), so r=3/2
3
2 6 -1 -32 -20 5 8

Step 4 and 5:
3
2 6 -1 -32 -20 5 8

9 12 -30 -75 -105

6 8 -20 -50 -70 -97
Step 6:
−97
The result would be 6𝑥 4 + 8𝑥 3 − 20𝑥 2 − 50𝑥 − 70 + 3
𝑥−2
Divide the result by 2.
97
So the final answer will be 3𝑥 4 + 4𝑥 3 − 10𝑥 2 − 25𝑥 − 35 − .
2𝑥−3

Quotient: 3𝑥 4 + 4𝑥 3 − 10𝑥 2 − 25𝑥 − 35

Remainder: -97
Board Work:
Use Synthetic Division
1. 6𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 1 ÷ 3𝑥 − 1
Quotient : 2𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 1
Remainder: 0

2. 𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 25 ÷ 𝑥 + 5

Quotient : 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 4
Remainder: -45
Seatwork
Find the quotient and remainder of the following by using synthetic
division.
1. 10𝑥 3 + 5𝑥 2 + 75𝑥 − 40 ÷ 2𝑥 + 1

2. (𝑥 2 +3𝑥 + 107) ÷ 𝑥 + 2

3. 3𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 − 22𝑥 − 25 ÷ 𝑥 − 2

4. 2𝑥 4 − 9𝑥 3 + 9𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 1 ÷ 2𝑥 + 1

5. 𝑥 3 + 35 − 19𝑥 2 + 13𝑥 ÷ 𝑥 − 5