Long and Synthetic Division of Polynomials

Long and synthetic division are two ways to divide one polynomial (the dividend) by another
polynomial (the divisor). These methods are useful when both polynomials contain more than
one term, such as the following two-term polynomial: 𝑥𝑥 2 + 3. This handout will discuss the
rules and processes for dividing polynomials using these methods.

Three Rules before Dividing Polynomials

There are a few rules to consider when dividing polynomials. First, the divisor must have a
smaller power of 𝑥𝑥 than the dividend. Just as five cannot be evenly divided by eight, (𝑥𝑥 − 1)
cannot be divided by (𝑥𝑥 3 − 1). The second rule specifies that both the divisor and dividend
must be ordered by descending powers of x. Once the powers of x are properly ordered, the
third and final rule states that any missing powers of x between the highest power and the
constant number must be filled in with a 0. For example, a polynomial such as (7𝑥𝑥 + 5𝑥𝑥 3 + 8)
must be rewritten as (5𝑥𝑥 3 + 0𝑥𝑥 2 + 7𝑥𝑥 + 8).

Long Division

Long division is a reliable tool to divide any two given polynomials. The following example
problem will explain the steps needed when using this method.

Example A: (𝑥𝑥 2 + 5𝑥𝑥 + 3) ÷ (𝑥𝑥 − 2)

Step One
𝑥𝑥 − 2� 𝑥𝑥 2 + 5𝑥𝑥 + 3 Write the problem in long division form. The
dividend is placed inside of the long division
symbol, and the divisor is placed to the left.

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November 2018
 Step Two
𝑥𝑥 Divide the first term in the dividend by the first
𝑥𝑥 − 2� 𝑥𝑥 2 + 5𝑥𝑥 + 3 __𝑥𝑥 2
term in the divisor. That is, = 𝑥𝑥 . Write
Divide 𝑥𝑥

𝑥𝑥 2 the result, also known as the quotient, above

= 𝑥𝑥
𝑥𝑥 the dividend, aligning like terms.

Multiply Step Three

𝑥𝑥(𝑥𝑥 − 2) 𝑥𝑥
Multiply the 𝑥𝑥 from the previous step by each
= 𝑥𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥 − 2� 𝑥𝑥 2 + 5𝑥𝑥 + 3
term in the divisor. Then, write the product
Distribute
(𝑥𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑥)
under the dividend and align the terms of the
product with the like terms of the dividend as
shown.

𝑥𝑥 Step Four

𝑥𝑥 − 2� 𝑥𝑥 2 + 5𝑥𝑥 + 3 Subtract 𝑥𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑥 from 𝑥𝑥 2 + 5𝑥𝑥. To do this,

−(𝑥𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑥) distribute the negative sign, which will change

Subtract
7𝑥𝑥 −(𝑥𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑥) to −𝑥𝑥 2 + 2𝑥𝑥. Write the result, 7𝑥𝑥,
(𝑥𝑥 2 + 5𝑥𝑥) − (𝑥𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑥) below the 2𝑥𝑥.
2 2
𝑥𝑥 + 5𝑥𝑥 − 𝑥𝑥 + 2𝑥𝑥 = 𝟕𝟕𝟕𝟕

Step Five
𝑥𝑥
Bring the + 3 down from the dividend so that
𝑥𝑥 − 2� 𝑥𝑥 2 + 5𝑥𝑥 + 3
it is next to the 7𝑥𝑥. This forms a new dividend:
Bring down
−(𝑥𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑥)
7𝑥𝑥 + 3 7𝑥𝑥 + 3.

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 Step Six
𝑥𝑥 + 7
Similar to Step Two, divide the first term in the
𝑥𝑥 − 2� 𝑥𝑥 2 + 5𝑥𝑥 + 3
new dividend by the first term in the divisor.
−(𝑥𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑥) 7𝑥𝑥
7𝑥𝑥 + 3 That is 𝑥𝑥
, which equals 7. Then, write the
Divide
quotient on top of the dividend, with like
terms aligned.
7(𝑥𝑥 − 2)
= 7𝑥𝑥 − 14
Multiply
𝑥𝑥 + 7 Step Seven

𝑥𝑥 − 2� 𝑥𝑥 2 + 5𝑥𝑥 + 3 Similar to Step Three, multiply the 7 from the

previous step by each term in the divisor, and
(𝑥𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑥)
7𝑥𝑥 + 3 write the product under the new dividend.
−(7𝑥𝑥 − 14)
Align the terms of the product with the
matching terms of the dividend.

Step Eight
𝑥𝑥 + 7
As with Step Four, subtract 7𝑥𝑥 − 14 from
𝑥𝑥 − 2� 𝑥𝑥 2 + 5𝑥𝑥 + 3
7𝑥𝑥 + 3, which results in 17. This result will be
−(𝑥𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑥)
Subtract the remainder in the final solution.
7𝑥𝑥 + 3
−(7𝑥𝑥 − 14)
= 7𝑥𝑥 + 3 − (7𝑥𝑥 − 14)
17
7𝑥𝑥 + 3 − 7𝑥𝑥 + 14 = 𝟏𝟏𝟕𝟕

Solution
17
𝑥𝑥 + 7 + The solution is the quotient 𝑥𝑥 + 7, plus the
𝑥𝑥 − 2
remainder, 17, divided by 𝑥𝑥 − 2.

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Synthetic Division

Synthetic division is a shorthand method to divide polynomials. It is designed to make the

division process faster once a person feels confident with long division. A problem that is
written in general terms, such as (𝐴𝐴𝑥𝑥 5 + 𝐵𝐵𝑥𝑥 4 + 𝐶𝐶𝑥𝑥 3 + 𝐷𝐷𝑥𝑥 2 + ⋯ ) ÷ (𝑥𝑥 − 𝑎𝑎), is set up in the
form seen below this paragraph. Each letter stands for a number; for example, the 𝑎𝑎 comes
from the divisor and the 𝐴𝐴, 𝐵𝐵, 𝐶𝐶, and 𝐷𝐷 are the coefficients of each term from the dividend.

𝑎𝑎 𝐴𝐴 𝐵𝐵 𝐶𝐶 𝐷𝐷 …

Unfortunately, there is one limitation that keeps this method from being a complete
replacement for long division: the divisor must be in the form (𝑥𝑥 − 𝑎𝑎). If the divisor has a
higher degree of 𝑥𝑥 than the dividend, such as (𝑥𝑥 2 + 5), or has more than two terms, then
synthetic division would be more difficult to perform than long division.

Example B: (𝑥𝑥 2 + 5𝑥𝑥 − 3) ÷ (𝑥𝑥 + 2)

Step One
Ensure that the divisor is in (𝑥𝑥 − 𝑎𝑎) form, and the
(𝑥𝑥 2 + 5𝑥𝑥 − 3) ÷ (𝑥𝑥 − (−2))
dividend is ordered by descending degrees of 𝑥𝑥.

Step Two
Write the problem in synthetic division form.
-2 1 5 -3

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 Step Three
-2 1 5 -3 Bring the first coefficient to the bottom row. This
Bring down handout will refer to this row as the solution row.
1

Step Four
Multiply the 1 in the solution row by the divisor.
-2 1 5 -3
Then, write the product in the middle row of the
Multiply -2
second column below the 5.
1
−2 ⋅ 1 = −2
Step Five
Add the two numbers in the second column.
Their sum will be 3. Write this result in the
-2 1 5 -3
Add solution row of the same column.
-2
5−2=3
1 3
Step Six
Similar to Step Four, multiply the 3 in the solution

-2 1 5 -3 row by the divisor, resulting in -6. Then write this

Multiply -2 -6 product in the middle row of the third column

1 3 below -3.

−2 ⋅ 3 = −6

Step Seven
Similar to Step Five, add -3 and -6, which equals
-2 1 5 -3 -9. Write the sum in the solution row below -6.
Add
2 -6 This number is the answer’s remainder because it
1 3 -9 −3 − 6 = −9 is the last number in the solution row.

Provided by the Academic Center for Excellence 5 Long and Synthetic Polynomial Division
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 Step Eight
2 1 5 -3 Since this example’s remainder is not 0, it needs
-2 -6 to be written over the original divisor 𝑥𝑥 + 2 in
1 3 -9 fractional form. The final result for this example’s
Rewrite
−9
remainder is 𝑥𝑥+2.
−9
1𝑥𝑥 + 3 + 𝑥𝑥+2

The remaining numbers in the bottom row will

form the quotient. The quotient is written
Original dividend: starting with the first number on the left. This
1𝑥𝑥 2 + 3𝑥𝑥 − 3 number will be written with an 𝑥𝑥 that is one
degree lower than the highest degree in the
After dividing: original dividend. In this case, the term with the
−9 highest degree in the dividend is 1𝑥𝑥 2 , so the first
1𝑥𝑥 + 3 +
𝑥𝑥 + 2
term of the quotient should be 1𝑥𝑥. Each term
following the first term will be written with an 𝑥𝑥
One degree less than the original
that is one degree less than the previous term. In
this case, the 3 will be written as 3𝑥𝑥 0 , which can
be simplified to just 3.

In summary, the first 𝑥𝑥 will have a degree one less

than the original dividend. Each term that follows

9 will have an 𝑥𝑥 that is one degree lower than the

𝑥𝑥 + 3 −
𝑥𝑥 + 2 previous.

Solution
The solution is the combination of the quotient,
𝑥𝑥 + 3, and the remainder, -9 over 𝑥𝑥 + 2.

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Practice Problems

Solve the following problems using both long division and synthetic division when possible.
Make sure the answers match when both methods are used. Correct answers are on the next
page.

1. (2𝑥𝑥 3 + 3𝑥𝑥 2 + 5𝑥𝑥 + 9) ÷ (𝑥𝑥 − 20)

2. (2𝑥𝑥 3 + 3𝑥𝑥 2 + 4𝑥𝑥 + 5) ÷ (2𝑥𝑥 2 + 3𝑥𝑥 + 4)

3. (2𝑥𝑥 3 + 2) ÷ (𝑥𝑥 + 3)

4. (5𝑥𝑥 3 − 25𝑥𝑥 2 + 6𝑥𝑥 4 − 30𝑥𝑥 3 ) ÷ (𝑥𝑥 + 5)

5. (3𝑥𝑥 2 + 5𝑥𝑥 + 10) ÷ (𝑥𝑥 − 5)

6. (2𝑥𝑥 3 + 18𝑥𝑥 + 5𝑥𝑥 2 + 45) ÷ (2𝑥𝑥 + 5)

7. (2𝑥𝑥 2 + 5) ÷ (𝑥𝑥 − 29)

8. (𝑥𝑥 4 + 7𝑥𝑥 2 + 10) ÷ (𝑥𝑥 2 + 2)

9. (𝑥𝑥 + 5) ÷ (𝑥𝑥 − 6)

10. (𝑥𝑥 5 + 1) ÷ (𝑥𝑥 − 2)

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Answers

17309
1: 2𝑥𝑥 2 + 43𝑥𝑥 + 865 + 𝑥𝑥−20
(long and synthetic division)
5
2: 𝑥𝑥 + 2𝑥𝑥 2 +3𝑥𝑥+4 (only long division)
52
3: 2𝑥𝑥 2 − 6𝑥𝑥 + 18 − 𝑥𝑥+3 (long and synthetic division)
6250
4: 6𝑥𝑥 3 − 55𝑥𝑥 2 + 250𝑥𝑥 − 1250 + 𝑥𝑥+5
(long and synthetic division)
110
5: 3𝑥𝑥 + 20 + 𝑥𝑥−5 (long and synthetic division)

6: 𝑥𝑥 2 + 9 (only long division)

1687
7: 2𝑥𝑥 + 58 + 𝑥𝑥−29 (long and synthetic division)

8: 𝑥𝑥 2 + 5 (only long division)

11
9: 1 + 𝑥𝑥−6 (long and synthetic division)
33
10: 𝑥𝑥 4 + 2𝑥𝑥 3 + 4𝑥𝑥 2 + 8𝑥𝑥 + 16 + 𝑥𝑥−2 (long and synthetic division)

Provided by the Academic Center for Excellence 8 Long and Synthetic Polynomial Division
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