Intermediate Algebra Tutorial 35


Intermediate Algebra
Answer/Discussion to Practice Problems
Tutorial 35: Dividing Polynomials


WTAMU > Virtual Math Lab > Intermediate Algebra > Tutorial 35: Dividing Polynomials


 

checkAnswer/Discussion to 1a

problem 1a
 
 

Step 1: Use distributive property to write every term of the numerator over the monomial in the denominator

AND

Step 2: Simplify the fractions.
 

ad1a
*Divide EVERY term by 2a squared
 

*Simplify each term
 
 

(return to problem 1a)


 

checkAnswer/Discussion to 1b

problem 1b
 
 

Step 1: Set up the long division.

 
ad1b1

 
 
Step 2:  Divide 1st term of divisor by first term of dividend to get first term of the quotient.

 
Note that the "scratch work" that you see at the right of the long division shows you how that step is filled in.  It shows you the "behind the scenes" of how each part comes about. 

  ad1b3
Scratch work:
ad1b2

 
Step 3:  Take the term found in step 1 and multiply it times the divisor.

 
ad1b5
Scratch work:
ad1b4

 
 
Step 4:  Subtract this from the line above.

 
ad1b6
Scratch work:
ad1b13

 
 
Step 5:  Repeat until done.

 
We keep going until we can not divide anymore.   It looks like we can go one more time on this problem.

We just follow the the same steps 2 - 4 as shown above.  Our "new divisor" is the last line,  6x - 9.
 

Step 2 (repeated):  Divide 1st term of divisor by first term of dividend to get first term of the quotient.

 
ad1b8
Scratch work:
ad1b7

 
Step 3 (repeated):  Take the term found in step 1 and multiply it times the divisor.

 
ad1b10
Scratch work:
ad1b9

 
Step 4 (repeated):  Subtract this from the line above.

 
ad1b11
Scratch work:
ad1b14

 
Step 6: Write out the answer.

 
ad1b12

 
(return to problem 1b)


 

checkAnswer/Discussion to 1c

problem 1c 
 

Step 1: Set up the long division.

 
ad1c1

 
 
Step 2:  Divide 1st term of divisor by first term of dividend to get first term of the quotient.

 
Note that the "scratch work" that you see at the right of the long division show you how that step is filled in.  It shows you the "behind the scenes" of how each part comes about. 

 
ad1c3
Scratch work:
ad1c2

 
Step 3:  Take the term found in step 1 and multiply it times the divisor.

 
ad1c5
Scratch work:
ad1c4

 
 
Step 4:  Subtract this from the line above.

 
ad1c6
Scratch work:
ad1c12

 
 
Step 5:  Repeat until done.

 
We keep going until we can not divide anymore.   It looks like we can go one more time on this problem.

We just follow the the same steps 2 - 4 as shown above.  Our "new divisor" is the last line,  -2x - 1.
 

Step 2 (repeated):  Divide 1st term of divisor by first term of dividend to get first term of the quotient.

 
ad1c8
Scratch work:
ad1c7

 
Step 3 (repeated):  Take the term found in step 1 and multiply it times the divisor.

 
ad1c10
Scratch work:
ad1c9

 
Step 4 (repeated):  Subtract this from the line above.

 
ad1c14
Scratch work:
ad1c13

 
Step 6: Write out the answer.

 
ad1c11

 
(return to problem 1c)

 

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WTAMU > Virtual Math Lab >Intermediate Algebra >Tutorial 35: Dividing Polynomials


Last revised on July 17, 2011 by Kim Seward.
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