5.6

Dividing Polynomials

Dividing Polynomials

To Divide a Polynomial by a MonomialDivide each term of the polynomial separately by the monomial.

, 0a b a b

cc c c

Example

a

aa

3

153612 3 Divide:

To divide a polynomial by a polynomial other than a monomial, we use a process known as long division. Polynomial long division is similar to number long division, which we review on the next slide.

Dividing Polynomials

As you can see from the previous example, there is a pattern in the long division technique.

Divide

Multiply

Subtract

Bring down

Then repeat these steps until you can’t bring down or divide any longer.

We will incorporate this same repeated technique with dividing polynomials.

Dividing Polynomials

15232837 2 xxx

Dividing Polynomials

Dividing Polynomials

Notice that the division process is continued until the degree of the remainder polynomial is less than the degree of the divisor polynomial.

86472 2 +-+ xxx

Dividing Polynomials

.