Question

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

Answer 1

Long divide to find:

`(5x^2-3x^4+x-2)/(x^2-2) = -3x^2-1 + (x-4)/(x^2-2)`

Explanation:

Write the numerator and denominator in standard form, with descending powers of `x` and `0` coefficients for otherwise missing powers. Then long divide:

So:

`(5x^2-3x^4+x-2)/(x^2-2) = -3x^2-1 + (x-4)/(x^2-2)`