Synthetic division

What this lesson shows

Divide 2 x squared, plus 2 x, minus 3, by x minus 2. Long division works. Synthetic division does the same job with nothing but the numbers.

Try it yourself

Real questions from this lesson's worksheets — answers below each one.

1. A polynomial has exactly 2 roots, counting multiplicity. What is its degree?
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   2
2. Use the Remainder Theorem to find the remainder when x² + 2x - 3 is divided by (x − 2).
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   5
3. Use the Remainder Theorem to find the remainder when x² + 2x + 4 is divided by (x − 1).
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   7
4. By the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra, a degree-4 polynomial has exactly how many roots (counting multiplicity)?
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   4