Dividend

Definition

A dividend is the polynomial being divided by another polynomial, called the divisor, in a division problem.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The degree of the dividend is typically higher than or equal to that of the divisor in polynomial division.
2. In synthetic division, coefficients of the dividend are used for calculations.
3. When dividing polynomials, the result includes a quotient and sometimes a remainder.
4. If a polynomial \(P(x)\) is divided by \(D(x)\), then \(P(x) = D(x)Q(x) + R(x)\), where \(Q(x)\) is the quotient and \(R(x)\) is the remainder.
5. The process of dividing polynomials can be simplified using long division or synthetic division methods.

Review Questions

• What happens to the degree of a polynomial when it is divided by another polynomial?
• How do you represent a dividend in synthetic division?
• What is the general form of expressing a dividend after division?

Related terms

Divisor: The polynomial by which another polynomial (the dividend) is divided.

Quotient: The result obtained from dividing one polynomial by another.

Remainder: The part left over after performing polynomial division when the divisor does not evenly divide into the dividend.