(2x^3 – x^2 + 3x – 1)/(x + 2)

Question

What are the steps to solve this?

Answer 1

set up like you would long division for numbers. (hard to show on this site)

look at (x+2) going into (2x^3 - x^2 + 3x - 1)

x goes into 2x^3, 2x^2 times so put 2x^2 above 'division sign' then multiply 2x^2 times (x+2) and subtract from (2x^3 - x^2 + 3x -1) you are left with (-5x^2 + 3x -1 )

then x goes into -5x^2, -5x times (put -5x next to 2x^2)

multiply (x+2) times (-5x) and subtract it from (-5x^2 + 3x -1) you are left with 13x -1

x goes into 13x, 13 times (put this with 2x^2 - 5x)

multiply (x+2) times 13 and subtract from (13x -1) left with (-27)

x doesn't go into (-27) so it is the remainder.  Final answer is (2x^2 - 5x + 13) R (-27)

This will be easier to understand if you can get someone to show you on paper (sorry)

Answer 2

Thank you so much.  It was a little difficult to follow your steps at first but then I figured it out.  This was very helpful.  Thank you again.