10

Mathematics
Quarter 1 – Module 8:
Dividing Polynomials Using Long
and Synthetic Division

CO_Q1_Mathematics 10_ Module 8 11

 What I Need To Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to indulge you in
dividing polynomials using long method and synthetic division. The scope of this
module permits it to be used in many different learning situations. The arrangement
of the lessons follows the standard sequence of the course. But the pacing in which
you read and answer this module is dependent on your ability.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

a) divide polynomials using long division and synthetic division, and
b) solve word problem that involves dividing polynomials.

What I Know

DIRECTION: Choose the letter of your answer from the given choices. Write your
answer on your answer sheet.

1) If a fifth degree polynomial is divided by a third degree polynomial, what is the

degree of the quotient?

A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 4

2) Divide: x3 − 5x2 + 2x − 10 by x2 + 2.

A) x2 − 7x + 16 B) x2 − 3x + 8 C) x + 5 D) x − 5

P( x) r ( x)
3) In the division algorithm = Q( x) + , what is the dividend?
d ( x) d ( x)

A) P(x) B) d(x) C) r(x) D) Q(x)

4) Find the remainder when x3 − 2x2 + 4x − 3 is divided by x − 2.

A) 27 B) 5 C) −5 D) −27

5) If x3 − 2x2 − 5x +6 is divided by x − 1, the remainder is zero.

A) True B) False C) Cannot be determined

CO_Q1_Mathematics 10_ Module 8

11
For #s 6 to 8, use the illustration of long division below:

Divide (3x3 − 2x2 + x − 2) by (x − 4)

3x 2 + 10 x + 41
x − 4 3x 3 − 2 x 2 + x − 2
(3x 3
− 12 x 2 )
10 x 2 + x
(
- 10 x 2 − 40 x )
41x − 2
− (41x − 164)
162
6) What is the remainder?

A) 41x – 164 B) x + 4 C) 41 D) 162

7) Which is the divisor?

A) x − 4 B) 5x − 6 C) 3x2 +10x +41 D) 162

8) Which is the quotient?

A) x − 4 B) 5x − 6 C) 3x2 +10x +41 D) 162

9) Using synthetic division to divide 3y3 − 7y2 − 20 by y − 3, which of the following

is the correct first row of the algorithm?

A) −3⌋ 3 −7 −20 B) −3⌋ 3 −7 0 −20

C) 3⌋ 3 −7 −20 D) 3⌋ 3 −7 0 −20

For #s 10 & 11, use the following synthetic division:

−2 1 6 2 −12
−2 −8 12
1 4 −6 0

10) Which polynomial is the dividend?

A) x4 + 6x3 + 2x2 − 12x B) x3 + 6x2 + 2x − 12

C) x3 + 4x2 − 6x D) x2 + 4x − 6

11) Which polynomial is the quotient?

A) x4 + 6x3 + 2x2 − 12x B) x3 + 6x2 + 2x − 12

C) x3 + 4x2 − 6x D) x2 + 4x − 6

2 CO_Q1_Mathematics 10_ Module 8

12) Find the quotient when (x3 − 2x2 − 11x − 20) is divided by (x – 5).

A) x2 + 3x + 4 B) x2 − 3x + 4

C) x2 + 3x − 4 D) x2 − 3x − 4

13) What is the quotient when (2x3 − 9x2 − 2x + 3) is divided by (2x − 1)?

A) x2 + 4x + 3 B) 2x2 − 8x − 6

C) x2 − 4x − 3 D) 2x2 + 8x + 6

14) What will be multiplied to x2 − 6x + 2 to get 3x3 − 19x2 + 12x − 2?

A) 3x − 1 B) 3x + 1 C) x + 3 D) 3x + 2

15) The volume of a rectangular prism is (2x3 − 11x2 + 13x − 4)cm3 and its height is
(x – 4) cm. What is the area of its base?

A) (2x2 − 3x + 1) cm2 B) (2x2 + 19x + 76) cm2

C) (2x2 + 3x − 1) cm2 D) (2x2 − 19x − 76) cm2

3 CO_Q1_Mathematics 10_ Module 8

 Dividing Polynomials Using
Lesson
Long & Synthetic Division

What’s In

When you were in Grade 7, you have learned that polynomial is an algebraic
expression whose variables must have nonnegative-integer powers. The degree of a
polynomial in one variable is the highest exponent among all the terms in the
polynomial. Recall also the concepts about naming polynomials according to its
number of terms (ex. monomial, binomial, trinomial, etc.) and its degree (ex. linear,
quadratic, cubic, etc.). Then, answer the activity that follows.

Activity 1. Complete the table. An example was done for you.

Name of the Name of the

Number Polynomial Polynomial
Polynomial Degree
of Terms (according to the (according to
number of terms) degree)
Example: x2 + 2x + 1 3 Trinomial 2 Quadratic

1) x + 1

2) 2x4 + 3x2 + 4x + 1

3) −5x3

4) x6 − 3x3 + 1

5) 3x3 + 2x

What’s New

Some real life applications of polynomials can be seen in the field of engineering and
economy. Engineers used polynomials when designing roads, buildings and other
structures and economist used it to model economic growth pattern. To understand
more about polynomials, let’s have the following problem:

4 CO_Q1_Mathematics 10_ Module 8

Problem:
During a school fund raising activity, you were able to generate a total of
x3 − 9x − 3x2 + 27 pesos from selling candies. If each candy costs x + 3 pesos,
how many candies were you able to sell?

To find the number of candies, we will divide the polynomial x3 − 9x − 3x2 + 27 by

x + 3. Hence, we need to understand the concept and learn the skill in dividing
polynomials which is the focus of this module.

What Is It

In this part of the module, we will show you how to divide polynomials using long
division and synthetic division. This skill is very important in factoring polynomials
and finding the roots of a polynomial equation.

A. DIVIDING POLYNOMIALS USING LONG DIVISION

To show you how to divide polynomials using long division, we will use the
polynomials specified in the problem from the previous page. That is to divide
x3 − 9x − 3x2 + 27 by x + 3. Be guided with the following steps:

Example 1. Divide (x3 − 9x − 3x2 + 27) by (x + 3).

Solution:
1) Arrange the polynomials in descending powers of x and write in the form
divisor dividend . If there are missing terms, replace it with 0.

x 3 − 9 x − 3x 2 + 27
x + 3 x 3 − 3x 2 − 9 x + 27
x+3

2) Divide the first term of the dividend by the first term of the divisor to get the first
term of the quotient:

x2 𝑥3 ÷ 𝑥 = 𝑥2
x + 3 x 3 − 3x 2 − 9 x + 27

3) Multiply the divisor by the first term of the quotient.

x2
x + 3 x 3 − 3x 2 − 9 x + 27
x 3 + 3x 2 (𝑥 + 3ሻ(𝑥 2 ሻ = 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2

5 CO_Q1_Mathematics 10_ Module 8

4) Subtract the product from the dividend then bring down the next term.

x2
x + 3 x 3 − 3x 2 − 9 x + 27
(
− x 3 + 3x 2 )
− 6x − 9x 2

5) Repeat steps 2 to 4. This time, the difference and the next term will be the new
dividend.

x 2 − 6x −6𝑥 2 ÷ 𝑥 = −6𝑥
x + 3 x 3 − 3x 2 − 9 x + 27
(
− x 3 + 3x 2 )
− 6x 2 − 9x
(
− − 6 x 2 − 18 x ) (𝑥 + 3ሻ(−6𝑥ሻ = −6𝑥 2 − 18𝑥
9 x + 27

6) Continue the process until a remainder is obtained. The remainder can be zero
or a polynomial whose degree is lower than the divisor.

x 2 − 6x + 9 9𝑥 ÷ 𝑥 = 9
x + 3 x 3 − 3x 2 − 9 x + 27
(
− x 3 + 3x 2 )
− 6x 2 − 9x
(
− − 6 x 2 − 18 x )
9 x + 27
− (9 x + 27 ) (𝑥 + 3ሻ(9𝑥ሻ = 9𝑥 + 27
0
Therefore, the quotient is x2 − 6x + 9.

In general, when a polynomial is divided by another polynomial, we express the result

in the following form:

P(x) r(x)
= Q(xሻ +
d(x) d(x)

where P(x) is the dividend, d(x) ≠ 0 is the divisor, Q(xሻ is the quotient, and r(x) is the
remainder. Multiplying this equation by the divisor d(x) leads us to the division
algorithm.

6 CO_Q1_Mathematics 10_ Module 8

 The Division Algorithm

If a polynomial P(x) is divided by a polynomial d(x), where d(x) ≠ 0 and

the degree of P(x) is greater than or equal to the degree of d(x), then a
unique polynomials Q(x) and r(x) exist such that
P(x) = d(x)∙ Q(x) + r(x).

3
Example 2. Divide (x4 + 2x − 4𝑥 2 − 10x + 5) by (x2 − 5).

Solution: Follow the procedures shown from example 1.

x 2 + 2x + 1 Quotient
x 2 − 5 x 4 + 2 x 3 − 4 x 2 − 10 x + 5
− (x4 − 5x 2 ) Multiply: 𝑥 2 (𝑥 2 − 5ሻ

2 x 3 + x 2 − 10 x Subtract. Bring down −10𝑥

− (2 x 3 − 10 x) Multiply: 2𝑥(𝑥 2 − 5ሻ

x2 +5 Subtract. Bring down 5

− x2 ( −5 ) Multiply: 1(𝑥 2 − 5ሻ

10 Remainder

Therefore, you can write the result as

x 4 + 2 x 3 − 4 x 2 − 10 x + 5 10
 = x 2 + 2x + 1 + 2
x −5
2
x −5

B. DIVIDING POLYNOMIALS USING SYNTHETIC DIVISION

There is a more efficient way of dividing polynomials if the divisor is a linear binomial
in the form x − a. This method is called synthetic division. A detailed discussion on
how this synthetic division will be done is given below. Just like long division, arrange
the polynomials first in descending powers of x and write 0 as coefficient of any
missing term.

Example 3: Divide (x3 − 9x − 3x2 + 27) by (x + 3) using synthetic division.

(These polynomials are the same as example 1. Let’s find out if synthetic and long
division will give the same quotient).

Arrange the dividend in descending order: x3 − 3x2 − 9x + 27

7 CO_Q1_Mathematics 10_ Module 8

−3 1 −3 −9 27 Write the coefficient of the polynomials.
The divisor is 𝑥 + 3, so use 𝑎 = −3

get the inverse of

the constant term
of the divisor.

−3 1 −3 −9 27

1 Bring down the first coefficient

−3 1 −3 −9 27
−3 Multiply −3 by 1 and write the result below −3
1

−3 1 −3 −9 27
−3
1 −6 Add −3 and −3

−3 1 −3 −9 27
−3 18 Multiply −3 by −6 and write the result below −9
1 −6 9 Add −9 and 18.

−3 1 −3 −9 27 Repeat the process until all columns are filled.

−3 18 −27 Multiply −3 by 9 and write the result below −27.
1 −6 9 0 Add 27 and −27.

−3 1 −3 −9 27 Identify the quotient and the remainder

−3 18 −27
1 −6 9 0

remainder Quotient, Q(xሻ = x2 − 6x + 9

Coefficient of
the quotient
Remainder, r(xሻ = 0

The degree of the quotient is one less than the degree of the dividend.

Thus the quotient is x2 − 6x + 9.

8 CO_Q1_Mathematics 10_ Module 8

From the previous examples, we were able to see that both long division and synthetic
division yield the same answer.

Example 4: Divide (2x4 − 3x2 + x − 4) by (x – 2).

2 2 0 −3 1 −4 Write the coefficient of the polynomials. Since 𝑥 3 is a

missing term, write 0 as its coefficient. The divisor is
𝑥 − 2, so use 𝑎 = 2

2 2 0 −3 1 −4 Perform the synthetic division.

4 8 10 22
2 4 5 11 18

2 2 0 −3 1 −4 Identify the quotient and the remainder.

4 8 10 22
2 4 5 11 18

Quotient, Q(xሻ = 2x3 + 4x2 + 5x + 11

remainder
Coefficient of Remainder, r(xሻ = 18
the quotient

Hence, the result can be written as:

2 x 4 − 3x 2 + x − 4 18
 = 2 x 3 + 4 x 2 + 5 x + 11 +
x−2 x−2

Example 5: Divide (3x3 − 16x2 + 3x + 12) by (3x + 2)

In this example, the leading coefficient of the divisor is not 1. Hence, divide both
terms of the divisor, (3x + 2), by 3 so that it will be in the form x – a. So the new
2
divisor will now be x + .
3

2 3 −16 3 12 Write the coefficient of the polynomials.

−
3
2 2
The divisor is 𝑥 + , so use 𝑎 = − .
3 3

9 CO_Q1_Mathematics 10_ Module 8

 2 3 −16 3 12 Perform the synthetic division.
−
3
−2 12 −10
3 −18 15 2

2 3 −16 3 12 Identify the quotient and the remainder.

−
3
−2 12 −10
3 −18 15 2

Quotient: 3𝑥 2 − 18𝑥 + 15
remainder Remainder: 2
Coefficient of
the quotient

2
Since the divisor 3x + 2 was divided by 3 to get a = − , then divide also every terms
3
in the quotient , (3x2 −18x + 15), by 3. Hence, the quotient will be x2 − 6x + 5 and
the result can be written as

3x 3 − 16 x 2 + 3x + 12 2
 = x 2 − 6x + 5 +
3x + 2 3x + 2

What’s More

Now, your turn!

Activity 2: Divide the following polynomials using long division. Show your
complete solution in your answer sheet.

a) (2x3 + 9x2 + 3x − 4) ÷ (x + 4)

b) (8x3 + 27) ÷ (2x + 3)

11x − 20 x 2 + 12 x 3 − 14
c)
x−2

x 4 + 3x 3 + 6 x − 4
d)
x2 + 2

10 CO_Q1_Mathematics 10_ Module 8

Activity 3:
Divide the following polynomials using synthetic division. Identify the quotient,
Q(x), and the remainder, r(x). Then, match the remainder to the decoder that
follows. Show your complete solution on your answer sheet.

C) (4x2 + x − 3) ÷ (x − 3)

E) (x4 + x3 − 3x2 − 4x − 4) ÷ (x + 3)

H) (3x2 + 4x − x4 − 2x3 − 4) ÷ (x + 2ሻ

O) ( 2x5 − 2x3 + 4x2 − 3) ÷ (x + 1ሻ

P) (−x4 + 2x5 − 2x − 3x2 + 1) ÷ (x − 2ሻ

T) (−25 − 4x4 − 3x2 + 4x) ÷ (x − 4ሻ

R) (2x3 + 5x2 − 4x − 5) ÷ (2x + 1ሻ

What is the other term for the number sign #?

1 36 −1081 1 −1081 0 1 −2 33 35

What I Have Learned

Let us sum up what we have learned in this module.

Activity 4. Perform what is asked.

A) Fill in the blank with the correct term.

When dividing polynomials, we express the result in the following form:

P(x) r(x)
= Q(xሻ +
d(x) d(x)

Where P(x) is the 1 , d(x) ≠ 0 is the 2 , Q(x) is

the 3 , and r(x) is the 4 .

11 CO_Q1_Mathematics 10_ Module 8

 B) Use the synthetic division below to find the following:

2 2 0 0 −1 −36 a. Dividend:
4 8 16 30 b. Divisor:
2 4 8 15 −6 c. Remainder:
d. Quotient:

What I Can Do

In this activity, you will apply dividing polynomials in solving word problems.

Activity 5. Solve the following problems:

1) Pedro bought (18x3 − 39x2 + 8x + 16) pesos worth of tokens for your classroom
Christmas party. If each token is worth (3x – 4) pesos, how many tokens did
Peter buy?

2) Lita works (x + 5) hours today as a service crew in a fast-food chain and earns
(2x3 + 23x2 − 26x + 3) pesos. How much does Lita earn per hour?

3) The area of a rectangle is 4x4 + 4x3 + 4x2 + 2x + 1 square centimeter. If the

length of the rectangle is 2x2 + 1 centimeter, what is the width of the rectangle?

Assessment

DIRECTION: Choose the letter of your answer from the given choices. Write your
answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1) If a sixth degree polynomial is divided by a second degree polynomial, what is

the degree of the quotient?

A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 4

2) Divide: x3 + 2x2 − 5x − 10 by x2 − 5.

A) x2 − 3x + 10 B) x2 + 7x + 30 C) x + 2 D) x − 2

12 CO_Q1_Mathematics 10_ Module 8

 P( x) r ( x)
3) In the division algorithm = Q( x) + , what is the divisor?
d ( x) d ( x)

A) P(x) B) d(x) C) r(x) D) Q(x)

4) Find the remainder when x3 − 2x2 + 4x − 3 is divided by x + 2 .

A) 27 B) 5 C) −5 D) −27

5) If x3 − 2x2 − 5x + 6 is divided by x + 1, the remainder is zero.

A) True B) False C) Cannot be determined

For #s 6 to 8, use the illustration of long division below:

Divide (2x3 + 3x2 − 10x + 12) by (x − 3)

2 x 2 + 9 x + 17
x − 3 2 x 3 + 3 x 2 − 10 x + 12
(
− 2x3 − 6x 2 )
9 x 2 − 10 x
(
- 9 x 2 − 27 x )
17 x + 12
− (17 x − 51)
63

6) What is the remainder?

A) 17 B) 63 C) x − 3 D) 17x − 51

7) Which is the divisor?

A) 2x2 + 9x + 17 C) 2x3 + 3x2 − 10x + 12
B) x – 3 D) 63

8) Which is the quotient?

A) 2x2 + 9x + 17 C) 2x3 + 3x2 − 10x + 12
B) x – 3 D) 63

9) Using synthetic division to divide 7y3 − 3y2 − 20 by y + 3, which of the following

is the correct first row of the algorithm?

A) 3⌋ 7 −3 0 −20 C) −3⌋ 7 −3 −20

B) −3⌋ 7 −3 0 −20 D) 3⌋ 7 −3 −20

13 CO_Q1_Mathematics 10_ Module 8

For #s 10 and 11, use the following synthetic division:

3 1 −6 2 21
3 −9 −21
1 −3 −7 0

10) Which polynomial is the dividend?

A) x3 − 6x2 + 2x + 21 C) x3 − 3x2 − 7x
B) x4 − 6x3 + 2x2 + 21x D) x2 − 3x − 7

11) Which polynomial is the quotient?

A) x3 − 6x2 + 2x + 21 C) x3 − 3x2 − 7x
B) x4 − 6x3 + 2x2 + 21x D) x2 − 3x − 7

12) Find the quotient when (x3 + 2x2 − 19x − 20) is divided by (x + 5).
A) x2 + 3x + 4 C) x2 + 3x − 4
B) x2 − 3x + 4 D) x2 − 3x − 4

13) What is the quotient when (2x3 + 9x2 − 2x − 3) is divided by (2x + 1)?
A) x2 + 4x − 3 C) 2x2 + 8x − 6
B) x2 − 4x + 1 D) 2x2 − 8x − 6

14) What will be multiplied to x2 − 6x + 2 to get 3x3 − 17x2 + 2?

A) x + 3 B) 3x + 2 C) 3x + 1 D) 3x − 1

15) The volume of a rectangular prism is (2x3 + 11x2 + 11x − 4)cm3 and its height
is (x + 4) cm. What is the area of its base?

A) (2x2 − 3x + 1) cm2 C) (2x2 + 3x − 1) cm2

B) (2x2 + 19x + 76) cm2 D) (2x2 − 19x − 76) cm2

14 CO_Q1_Mathematics 10_ Module 8

 Additional Activities
This time, let’s have more challenging problems to solve!

Activity 6. Answer the following problems:

A) Complete the synthetic division below and fill out the questions that follow:

2 −3 −2 4
4 4 4
2 2 2

Identify:
1) P(x) = ______________________________________
2) Q(x) = _______________________________________
3) d(x) = _______________________________________
4) r(x) = _______________________________________

B) The long division below is incorrect. What mistake was made?

Divide: (x3 − 6x2 + 2x − 3) ÷ (x − 2ሻ

x 2 − 4 x + 10
x − 2 x3 − 6x 2 + 2x − 3
(x 3
− 2x 2 )
- 4x + 2x
2

(
- 4 x 2 + 8x )
10 x − 3
− (10 x − 20)
17

C) Find the constant C such that the denominator will divide evenly into the
numerator.(To divide evenly means the remainder must be zero).

2x 3 + 9x 2 − x + C
1)
x+4

x 4 − x 3 − 3x 2 − Cx − 3
2)
x−3

15 CO_Q1_Mathematics 10_ Module 8

CO_Q1_Mathematics 10_ Module 8 16
What I Know What’s In.
1. B 6. D 11. D Activity 1
2. D 7. A 12. A
3. A 8. C 13. C 1) 𝑥 + 1 2 Binomial 1 Linear
4. B 9. D 14. A
5. A 10. B 15. A 2) 2𝑥 4 + 3𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 1 4 Multinomial 4 Quartic
3) −5𝑥 3 1 Monomial 3 Cubic
4) 𝑥 6 − 3𝑥 3 + 1 3 Trinomial 6 6th Degree
5) 3𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 binomial 3 Cubic
What’s More What I Have Learned
Activity 2 Activity 4
a) 2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 1
b) 4𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 9 A) 1) dividend
24 2) divisor
c) 12𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 19 +
𝑥−2
3) quotient
d) 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 2
4) remainder
Activity 3
B) 1) 2𝑥 4 − 𝑥 − 36
C) 𝑄(𝑥ሻ = 4𝑥 + 13, 𝑟(𝑥ሻ = 36
2) 𝑥 − 2
E) 𝑄(𝑥ሻ = 𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 3, 𝑟(𝑥ሻ = 35
3) −6
H) 𝑄(𝑥ሻ = −𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 − 2, 𝑟(𝑥ሻ = 0
4) 2𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 − 15
O) 𝑄(𝑥ሻ = 2𝑥 4 − 2𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 − 4, 𝑟(𝑥ሻ = 1
P) 𝑄(𝑥ሻ = 2𝑥 4 + 3𝑥 3 + 6𝑥 2 + 9𝑥 + 16, 𝑟(𝑥ሻ = 33
T) 𝑄(𝑥ሻ = −4𝑥 3 − 16𝑥 2 − 67𝑥 − 264, 𝑟(𝑥ሻ = −1081
R) 𝑄(𝑥ሻ = 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 3, 𝑟(𝑥ሻ = −2
OCTOTHORPE
What I Can Do Assessment
Activity 5
1. D 6. B 11. D
1. (6𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 − 4ሻ tokens 2. C 7. B 12. D
458 3. B 8. A 13. A
2. ቀ2𝑥 2 + 13𝑥 − 91 + ቁ pesos
𝑥+5 4. D 9. B 14. C
3. (2𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1ሻ centimeter
5. B 10. A 15. C
Additional Activities
Activity 6
A)
2 2 −3 0 −2 4
4 2 4 4
2 1 2 2 8
1) 𝑃(𝑥ሻ = 2𝑥 4 − 3𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 + 4
2) 𝑄(𝑥ሻ = 2𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 2
3) 𝑑(𝑥ሻ = 𝑥 − 2
4) 𝑟(𝑥ሻ = 8
B) 2𝑥 − 8𝑥 is not 10𝑥 (6th row)
C) 1) 𝐶 = −20
2) 𝐶 = 8
Answer Key
References
Algebraic Division taken from http://mathematics.laerd.com

Larson, R. (2006). Precalculus with limits. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Co.
Leithold, L. (1989). College Algebra and Trigonometry. Reading Mass.: Addison
Wesley.
Young, C. (2010). Precalculus. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley.

17 CO_Q1_Mathematics 10_ Module 8