# Thread: Polynomial division vs synthetic division

1. ## Polynomial division vs synthetic division

If I am simplifing an expression in which I cannot factor I can use polynomial division, I can also use synethic division to get the same answer. I know that I can only use synethic division when I am dividing by a linear equation.

When I change the leading coefficient on the linear equation I found that I have to divide my numbers when I do synthetic division by that number, why does this have to happen

example using poly division

(42x^2-33)/(7x+7) = 6x-6+9/7x+7

using synthetic I get 42x-42 with a remainder of 9

so I can say that r= 9/x+1 Is the reason that I divide by 7 because I take that out a 7 and use -1 so I have to put the 7 back in so I have to divide everything by 7 to get the same answer when I use poly division?

If I am using synthetic division to solve my answer will I always divide my two numbers by the leading cooefficient on my linear term.

like if I want to divide 2x^2-17x-38 by 2x+3 if I use synthetic I will just divide by 2 when I am done
50k^3+10k^2-35k-7 divided by 5k-4 when I do synthetic divide all terms by 5?

2. For synthetic division, the divisor (the number that you're dividing by) the coefficient for x is always 1 in order for it to work. If the coefficient isn't one, you have to use polynomial long division to divide.

3. Originally Posted by algebraisabeast
If I am simplifing an expression in which I cannot factor I can use polynomial division, I can also use synethic division to get the same answer. I know that I can only use synethic division when I am dividing by a linear equation.

When I change the leading coefficient on the linear equation I found that I have to divide my numbers when I do synthetic division by that number, why does this have to happen

example using poly division

(42x^2-33)/(7x+7) = 6x-6+9/7x+7

using synthetic I get 42x-42 with a remainder of 9
so I can say that r= 9/x+1 Is the reason that I divide by 7 because I take that out a 7 and use -1 so I have to put the 7 back in so I have to divide everything by 7 to get the same answer when I use poly division?

If I am using synthetic division to solve my answer will I always divide my two numbers by the leading cooefficient on my linear term.
Hi algebraisabeast,

$(42x^2-33) \div (7x+7) = 6x-6+\frac{9}{7x+7}$

Now, when you attempt to use synthetic division and the coefficient of x is not 1, then you must divide everything by that coefficient, the divisor and the dividend.

Dividing everything by 7 you would have $(6x^2-\frac{33}{7}) \div (x+1)$

Now set up your synthetic division process. Your divisor is now -1.

Code:
-1  |  6  0  -33/7
-6   6
-------------
6 -6   9/7
Above translates to $6x-6+\frac{\frac{9}{7}}{x+1}$ which further simplifies to

$6x-6+\frac{9}{7x+7}$

Originally Posted by algebraisabeast
like if I want to divide 2x^2-17x-38 by 2x+3 if I use synthetic I will just divide by 2 when I am done
50k^3+10k^2-35k-7 divided by 5k-4 when I do synthetic divide all terms by 5?
This is correct. Now try one of those and see if you can do it.

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### (50k^3 10k^2-35k-7)/(5k-4)

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