How do you long divide (5x^4-2x^3- 7x^2 -39) / (x^2 + 2x- 4)?

1 Answer
Jun 6, 2015

The first multiplier is color(red)(5x^2)

5x^2(x^2+2x-4) = 5x^4+10x^3-20x^2

Subtract this from the original numerator to get a remainder:

(5x^4-2x^3-7x^2-39)-(5x^4+10x^3-20x^2)

=-12x^3+13x^2-39

The second multiplier is color(red)(-12x)

-12x(x^2+2x-4) = -12x^3-24x^2+48x

Subtract this from the remainder to get a new remainder:

(-12x^3+13x^2-39) - (-12x^3-24x^2+48x)

=37x^2-48x-39

The next multiplier is color(red)(37)

=37(x^2+2x-4) = 37x^2+74x-148

Subtract this from the remainder to get a new remainder:

(37x^2-48x-39) - (37x^2+74x-148)

=-122x-187

Add the multiplier we have found together to get:

(5x^4-2x^3-7x^2-39) / (x^2+2x-4)

= (5x^2-12x+37) - (122x+187)/(x^2+2x-4)