How is dividing a polynomial by a binomial similar or different from long division you learned in elementary school?
The technique (steps) are no different than in elementary school. The only difference is that we are using variables. For example divide 13 by 5. STEP 1 – you would ask yourself how many times 5 goes into 13 and say 2. STEP 2 – Place a 2 above the 3 of 13 and multiply 2 x 5 to get 10. Place the 10 below the 13. STEP 3 – subtract 10 from 13 to get 3. Personally I tell kids “draw the line and change the signs” This helps them remember to change ALL signs. STEP 4 – write the answer as 2 R3. Eventually you learned that 2 R 3 became 2 3/5. — Now, lets take you up one step one the ladder; same problem 13 divided by 5. STEP #1 – split the 13 onto 10 + 3.
