Long division

Definition

Long division is a method used to divide polynomials by another polynomial of lesser or equal degree. It involves repeated division, multiplication, and subtraction to obtain the quotient and remainder.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The divisor must be a polynomial of lesser or equal degree than the dividend.
2. The result includes both a quotient and a remainder, where the remainder has a lower degree than the divisor.
3. Align terms with similar degrees for accurate subtraction during each step.
4. If there is no term for a specific degree in either the dividend or divisor, use zero as its coefficient in alignment.
5. Long division can verify factorization by checking if the remainder is zero.

Review Questions

Related terms

Polynomial:

An expression consisting of variables and coefficients combined using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and non-negative integer exponents.

Quotient:

The result obtained from dividing one polynomial by another using long division.

Remainder:

The part left over after performing polynomial long division that has a lower degree than the divisor.