Name Class Date

6.5 Dividing Polynomials

Essential Question: What are some ways to divide polynomials, and how do you know when
the divisor is a factor of the dividend?

Resource
Locker

Explore Evaluating a Polynomial Function

Using Synthetic Substitution
Polynomials can be written in something called nested form. A polynomial in nested form is written in such a way
that evaluating it involves an alternating sequence of additions and multiplications. For instance, the nested form of
p(x) = 4x 3 + 3x 2 + 2x + 1 is p(x) = x(x(4x + 3) + 2) + 1, which you evaluate by starting with 4, multiplying by
the value of x, adding 3, multiplying by x, adding 2, multiplying by x, and adding 1.

 Given p(x) = 4x 3 + 3x 2 + 2x + 1, find p(-2).

You can set up an array of numbers that captures the sequence of multiplications and
additions needed to find p(a). Using this array to find p(a) is called synthetic substitution.

Given p(x) = 4x 3 + 3x 2 + 2x + 1, find p(-2) by using synthetic substitution. The dashed

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arrow indicates bringing down, the diagonal arrows represent multiplication by –2, and the
solid down arrows indicate adding.

The first two steps are to bring down the leading number, 4, then multiply by the value you
are evaluating at, -2.

-2 4 3 2 1

-8

B Add 3 and –8.

-2 4 3 2 1

-8

Module 6 321 Lesson 5

 Multiply the previous answer by –2.  Continue this sequence of steps until you reach
the last addition.
-2 4 3 2 1
-2 4 3 2 1
-8
-8 10
4 -5
4 -5

 p(-2) =

Reflect

1. Discussion After the final addition, what does this sum correspond to?

Explain 1 Dividing Polynomials Using Long Division

Recall that arithmetic long division proceeds as follows.
Divisor
––––
23 ← Quotient
12 ⟌ 277 ← Dividend
24
―
37
36
―
1 ← Remainder

dividend remainder
Notice that the long division leads to the result _______ = quotient + ________ . Using the
divisor divisor
277 1
numbers from above, the arithmetic long division leads to ___
12
= 23 + __
12
. Multiplying through
by the divisor yields the result dividend = (divisor)(quotient) + remainder. (This can be used as
a means of checking your work.)

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Example 1 Given a polynomial divisor and dividend, use long division to
find the quotient and remainder. Write the result in the form
dividend = (divisor)(quotient) + remainder and then carry out the
multiplication and addition as a check.

 (4x 3 + 2x 2 + 3x + 5) ÷ (x 2 + 3x + 1)
Begin by writing the dividend in standard form, including terms with a coefficient
of 0 (if any).

4x 3 + 2x 2 + 3x + 5

Write division in the same way as you would when dividing numbers.
–––––––––––––––––
x 2 + 3x + 1 ⟌ 4x 3 + 2x 2 + 3x + 5

Module 6 322 Lesson 5

 Find the value you need to multiply the divisor by so that the first term matches
with the first term of the dividend. In this case, in order to get 4​x ​2​, we must multiply ​
x 2​ ​by 4x. This will be the first term of the quotient.

–––––––––––––––––
       
            4x
  
​   
    ​
​x 2​ ​ + 3x + 1​  ⟌ 4​x 3​ ​ + 2​x 2​ ​ + 3x + 5 ​
Next, multiply the divisor through by the term of the quotient you just found and
subtract that value from the dividend. (​ ​x 2​ ​ + 3x + 1)​​(4x)​= 4​x 3​ ​ + 12​x 2​ ​+ 4x, so
subtract 4​x 3​ ​ + 12​x 2​ ​+ 4x from 4​x 3​ ​ + 2​x 2​ ​ + 3x + 5.

–––––––––––––––––
        4x
​           
  
  
    ​
​x ​ ​ + 3x + 1​  ⟌ 4​x 3​ ​ + 2​x 2​ ​ + 3x + 5 ​
2
           
  
​      ​
-​(4​x 3​ ​ + 12​x 2​ ​ + 4x)​​
―――――――
      ​
​            
     ​
      -10​x 2​ ​ - x + 5
Taking this difference as the new dividend, continue in this fashion until the largest
term of the remaining dividend is of lower degree than the divisor.
4x - 10
​x ​ ​ + 3x + 1​  ⟌–––––––––––––––––
2
  
x ​ ​ + 2​x ​ ​ + 3x + 5 ​
4​ 3 2

  
-​(4​x 3​ ​ + 12​x 2​ ​ + 4x)​​
​
―――――――
-10​x ​ ​ - x + 5 2

   
​(-10​x ​ ​ - 30x - 10)​​
-​
――――――――
2

29x + 15
Since 29x + 5 is of lower degree than x​ ​2​ + 3x + 1, stop. 29x + 15 is the remainder.

Write the final answer.

x ​3​ + 2​x 2​ ​ + 3x + 5 = (​ ​x 2​ ​ + 3x + 1)​​(4x - 10)​ + 29x + 15

4​

Check.

​4x ​3​ + 2​x 2​ ​ + 3x + 5 = (​ ​x 2​ ​ + 3x + 1)​​(4x - 10)​ + 29x + 15

= ​4x 3​ ​ + 12​x 2​ ​ + 4x - 10​x 2​ ​ - 30x - 10 + 29x + 15

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= 4​x 3​ ​ + 2​x 2​ ​ + 3x + 5

B ​(6​x​ ​ + 5​x​ ​ + 2x + 8)​ ÷ (​ ​x​ ​ + 2x - 5)​

4 3 2

Write the dividend in standard form, including terms with a coefficient of 0.

Write the division in the same way as you would when dividing numbers.
––––––––––––––––––––––
   
x ​2​ + 2x - 5​  ⟌ 6​x 4​ ​ + 5​x 3​ ​ + 0​x 2​ ​ + 2x + 8 ​
​

Module 6 323 Lesson 5

 Divide.

x ​2​ -
6​ +
––––––––––––––––––––––
   
x ​2​ + 2x - 5​  ⟌ 6​x 4​ ​ + 5​x 3​ ​ + 0​x 2​ ​ + 2x + 8 ​
​

   
-​(6​x 4​ ​ + 12​x 3​ ​ - 30​x 2​ ​)​     ​
――――――――――
​

-7​x 3​ ​ + 30​x ​2​ + 2x
(
-​ -7​x 3​ ​ )​ 
―――
   
   
   ​  + 8  ​

-​ ( )​
―――
   ​
    ​ 
    

Write the final answer.

x ​4​ + 5​x 3​ ​ + 2x + 8 =
6​

Check.

Reflect

2. How do you include the terms with coefficients of 0?

Your Turn

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Use long division to find the quotient and remainder. Write the result in the form
dividend = (​ divisor)​​(quotient)​+ remainder and then carry out a check.

3. ​(15​x 3​ ​ + 8x - 12)​ ÷ (​ 3​x 2​ ​ + 6x + 1)​

Module 6 324 Lesson 5

 4. (9x 4 + x 3 + 11x 2 - 4) ÷ (x 2 + 16)

Explain 2 Dividing p(x) by x - a Using Synthetic Division

Compare long division with synthetic substitution. There are two important things to notice. The first
is that p(a) is equal to the remainder when p(x) is divided by x - a. The second is that the numbers to
the left of p(a) in the bottom row of the synthetic substitution array give the coefficients of the quotient.
For this reason, synthetic substitution is also called synthetic division.

Long Division Synthetic Substitution

x - 2 ⟌––––––––––––––––––
3x + 10x + 20
2
2 3 4 0 10
3x + 4x + 0x + 10
3 2
6 20 40
――――――
-(3x 3 - 6x 2)
―――――
10x + 0x 2
3 10 20 50

-(10x - 20x)
――――――
2

20x + 10
-20x - 40
――――
50

Example 2 Given a polynomial p(x), use synthetic division to divide by x - a and obtain
the quotient and the (nonzero) remainder. Write the result in the form
p(x) = (x - a)(quotient) + p(a), then carry out the multiplication and
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addition as a check.

 (7x 3 - 6x + 9) ÷ (x + 5)
By inspection, a = -5. Write the coefficients -5 7 0 -6 9
and a in the synthetic division format.
――――――

Bring down the first coefficient. Then multiply -5 7 0 -6 9

and add for each column. -35 175 -845
―――――――――
7 -35 169 -836

Write the result, using the non-remainder (7x 3 - 6x + 9) = (x + 5)(7x 2 - 35x + 169) - 836
entries of the bottom row as the coefficients.

Check. (7x 3 - 6x + 9) = (x + 5)(7x 2 - 35x + 169) - 836

= 7x 3 - 35x 2 - 35x 2 - 175x + 169x + 845 - 836

= 7x 3 - 6x + 9
Module 6 325 Lesson 5
B ​(4​x​ ​ - 3​x​ ​ + 7x + 2)​ ÷ (​ x - _​  21 ​)​
4 2

Find a. Then write the coefficients and a in the synthetic division format.

Find a =

4 0 -3 7 2
  
​            ​
―――――――

Bring down the first coefficient. Then multiply and add for each column.

4 0 -3 7 2
  
​
           ​
―――――――
4
Write the result.

(4​x ​4​ - 3​x 2​ ​ + 7x + 2)​=

​
Check.

Reflect

5. Can you use synthetic division to divide a polynomial by x​  ​2​ + 3? Explain.

Your Turn

Given a polynomial p​(x)​, use synthetic division to divide by x - a and obtain

the quotient and the (nonzero) remainder. Write the result in the form
p(​ x)​ = (​ x - a)(​​ quotient)​ + p​(a)​. You may wish to perform a check.

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​(2​x ​3​ + 5​x ​ ​ - x + 7)​ ÷ (​ x - 2)​
2
6.

7. (
(​ 6​x ​4​ - ​25x ​3​ - 3x + 5)​ ÷ ​ x + _ )
​  1 ​ ​
3

Module 6 326 Lesson 5

 Explain 3 Using the Remainder Theorem and Factor
Theorem
When p(x) is divided by x - a, the result can be written in the form p(x) = (x - a)q(x) + r
where q(x) is the quotient and r is a number. Substituting a for x in this equation gives
p(a) = (a - a)q(a) + r. Since a - a = 0, this simplifies to p(a) = r. This is known as
the Remainder Theorem.

If the remainder p(a) in p(x) = (x - a)q(x) + p(a) is 0, then p(x) = (x - a)q(x), which tells you
that x - a is a factor of p(x). Conversely, if x - a is a factor of p(x), then you can write p(x) as
p(x) = (x - a)q(x), and when you divide p(x) by x - a, you get the quotient q(x) with a remainder
of 0. These facts are known as the Factor Theorem.

Example 3 Determine whether the given binomial is a factor of the polynomial p(x). If
so, find the remaining factors of p(x).

 p(x) = x 3 + 3x 2 - 4x - 12; (x + 3)

Use synthetic division.

-3 3 -4 -12
1
-3 0 12
――――――――
1 0 -4 0
Since the remainder is 0, x + 3 is a factor.

Write q(x) and then factor it.

q(x) = x 2 - 4 = (x + 2)(x - 2)

So, p(x) = x 3 + 3x 2 - 4x - 12 = (x + 2)(x - 2)(x + 3).

B p(x) = x 4 - 4x 3 - 6x 2 + 4x + 5; (x + 1)

Use synthetic division.

-1 1 -4 -6 4 5
―――――――
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1
Since the remainder is , (x + 1) a factor. Write q(x).

q(x) =

Now factor q(x) by grouping.

q(x) =

So, p(x) = x 4 - 4x 3 - 6x 2 + 4x + 5 = .

Module 6 327 Lesson 5

 Your Turn

Determine whether the given binomial is a factor of the polynomial p​(x)​. If it is, find
the remaining factors of p​(x)​.

8. p​(x)​= 2​x 4​ ​ + 8​x 3​ ​ + 2x + 8; (​ x + 4)​

9. p​(x)​= 3​x 3​ ​ - 2x + 5; (​ x - 1)​

Elaborate
10. Compare long division and synthetic division of polynomials.

11. How does knowing one linear factor of a polynomial help find the other factors?

12. What conditions must be met in order to use synthetic division?

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13. Essential Question Check-In How do you know when the divisor is a factor of the dividend?

Module 6 328 Lesson 5

 Evaluate: Homework and Practice
• Online Homework
Given p(x), find p(-3) by using synthetic substitution. • Hints and Help
• Extra Practice
1. p(x) = 8x 3 + 7x 2 + 2x + 4 2. p(x) = x 3 + 6x 2 + 7x - 25

3. p(x) = 2x 3 + 5x 2 - 3x 4. p(x) = -x 4 + 5x 3 - 8x + 45

Given a polynomial divisor and dividend, use long division to find the quotient and
remainder. Write the result in the form dividend = (divisor)(quotient) + remainder.
You may wish to carry out a check.

5. (18x 3 - 3x 2 + x -1) ÷ (x 2 - 4)
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6. (6x 4 + x 3 - 9x + 13) ÷ (x 2 + 8)

Module 6 329 Lesson 5

7. ​(​x 4​ ​ + 6x - 2.5)​ ÷ (​ ​x 2​ ​ + 3x + 0.5)​

8. (
​(​x 3​ ​ + 250​x 2​ ​ + 100x)​÷ ​ ​ _ )
1 ​​x 2​ ​ + 25x + 9 ​
2

Given a polynomial p​(x)​, use synthetic division to divide by x - a and obtain

the quotient and the (nonzero) remainder. Write the result in the form
p​(x)​ = (​ x - a)(​​ quotient)​ + p​(a)​. You may wish to carry out a check.

9. (​ 7​x 3​ ​ - 4​x 2​ ​ - 400x - 100)​ ÷ (​ x - 8)​

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10. (​ 8​x 4​ ​ - 28.5​x 2​ ​ - 9x + 10)​ ÷ (​ x + 0.25)​

11. ​(2.5​x 3​ ​ + 6​x 2​ ​ - 5.5x - 10)​ ÷ (​ x + 1)​

Module 6 330 Lesson 5

 Determine whether the given binomial is a factor of the polynomial p​(x)​.
If so, find the remaining factors of p​(x)​.

12. p​(x)​= ​x 3​ ​ + 2​x 2​ ​ - x - 2; (​ x + 2)​ 13. p​(x)​= 2​x 4​ ​ + 6​x 3​ ​ - 5x - 10; (​ x + 2)​

14. p​(x)​= ​x 3​ ​ - 22​x 2​ ​ + 157x - 360; (​ x - 8)​

15. p​(x)​= 4​x 3​ ​ - 12​x 2​ ​ + 2x - 5; (​ x - 3)​

16. The volume of a rectangular prism whose dimensions are binomials with integer
coefficients is modeled by the function V​(x)​= ​x 3​ ​ - 8​x 2​ ​ + 19x - 12 .
Given that x - 1 and x - 3 are two of the dimensions, find the missing dimension
of the prism.
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Module 6 331 Lesson 5

17. Given that the height of a rectangular prism is x + 2 and the volume is x​ 3​ ​ - x​ 2​ ​ - 6x,
write an expression that represents the area of the base of the prism.

18. Physics A Van de Graaff generator is a machine

that produces very high voltages by using small, safe
levels of electric current. One machine has a current
that can be modeled by l​(t)​= t + 2 , where t > 0
represents time in seconds. The power of the system
can be modeled by P​(t)​= 0.5​t 3​ ​ + 6​t 2​ ​ + 10t. Write an
expression that represents the voltage of the system.
Recall that V = __​  Pl ​.

19. Geometry The volume of a hexagonal pyramid is modeled by the function

​  13 ​​x 3​ ​ + __
V​(x)​= __ ​  43 ​​x ​ ​ + __
​  23 ​  x - __
​  13 ​. Given the height x + 1, use polynomial division to find
2

an expression for the area of the base.

(Hint: For a pyramid, V = ​ __13 ​   Bh.)

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20. Explain the Error Two students used synthetic division to divide 3​x 3​ ​ - 2x - 8
by x - 2. Determine which solution is correct. Find the error in the other solution.

A. B.
Photo Library

2  3 0 -2 -8 -2  3 0 -2 -8
           
6      12 20          
​     ​
    -6  12   -20​​
―――――――
           
     3     6      10    12      3   -6   10    -28

Module 6 332 Lesson 5

 H.O.T. Focus on Higher Order Thinking

21. Multi-Step Use synthetic division to divide p​(x)​= 3​x 3​ ​ - 11​x 2​ ​ - 56x - 50
by (​ 3x + 4)​. Then check the solution.

22. Critical Thinking The polynomial a​x ​3​ + b​x 2​ ​ + cx + d is factored as

3​(x - 2)​​(x + 3)​​(x - 4)​. What are the values of a and d? Explain.

23. Analyze Relationships Investigate whether the set of whole numbers, the set
of integers, and the set of rational numbers are closed under each of the four basic
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operations. Then consider whether the set of polynomials in one variable is closed
under the four basic operations, and determine whether polynomials are like whole
numbers, integers, or rational numbers with respect to closure. Use the table to
organize.

Whole Rational
Numbers Integers Numbers Polynomials
Addition

Subtraction

Multiplication

Division (by
nonzero)

Module 6 333 Lesson 5

Lesson Performance Task
The table gives the attendance data for all divisions of NCAA Women’s Basketball.

NCAA Women’s Basketball Attendance

Attendance
Years since Number of teams (in thousands) for
Season 2006–2007 in all 3 divisions all 3 divisions
2006–2007 0 1003 10,878.3

2007–2008 1 1013 11,120.8

2008–2009 2 1032 11,160.3

2009–2010 3 1037 11,134.7

2010–2011 4 1048 11,160.0

2011–2012 5 1055 11,201.8

Enter the data from the second, third, and fourth columns of the table and perform linear
regression on the data pairs (t, T) and cubic regression on the data pairs (t, A) where t = years
since the 2006–2007 season, T = number of teams, and A = attendance (in thousands).
A​(t)​
Then create a model for the average attendance per team: A ​ ​avg(​​ t)​= ___
​  ( ) ​. Carry out the division to
T​ t ​
write ​A avg​​(t)​in the form quadratic quotient + ​  ( ) ​.
​ _______
remainder
T​ t ​

Use an online computer algebra system to carry out the division of A​(t)​by T​(t)​.

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Module 6 334 Lesson 5