CW 1- Section 3.4: Dividing Polynomials

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What is synthetic division?

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Synthetic division is a simplified method of dividing a polynomial by a linear divisor of the form (x - c). It uses the coefficients of the polynomial and is generally faster than long division.

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What is the first step in synthetic division?

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The first step is to write down the coefficients of the polynomial in descending order of degree, and place the value of c (from x - c) in a box on the left.

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How do you perform synthetic division?

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1. Write the coefficients of the dividend polynomial. 2. Bring down the leading coefficient. 3. Multiply it by c and add to the next coefficient. 4. Repeat until all coefficients are processed.

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The order of coefficients is 6, -4, 0, 3, 1.

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What is polynomial long division?

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Polynomial long division is a method for dividing a polynomial by another polynomial of equal or lower degree, similar to numerical long division.

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What is the remainder in polynomial division?

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The remainder is what is left over after dividing a polynomial by another polynomial. It can be expressed as a fraction of the divisor.

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What is the relationship between the degree of the dividend and the divisor in polynomial division?

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The degree of the dividend must be greater than or equal to the degree of the divisor for polynomial division to be performed.

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What is the purpose of arranging polynomial terms in descending order?

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Arranging polynomial terms in descending order helps in clearly identifying the leading term and simplifies the division process.