long division

(noun)

A procedure for division that involves breaking down a polynomial division into a series of easier steps.

Related Terms

  • dividend
  • divisor

Examples of long division in the following topics:

  • Dividing Polynomials

    • Polynomial long division is a method for dividing a polynomial by another polynomial of the same or lower degree.
    • For example, find the quotient and the remainder of the division of $x^3 - 12x^2 -42$, the dividend, by $x-3$, the divisor.
    • Polynomial long division is an algorithm for dividing a polynomial by another polynomial of the same or lower degree.This method is a generalized version of the familiar arithmetic technique called long division.It can be done easily by hand, because it separates an otherwise complex division problem into smaller ones.
    • For example, find the quotient and the remainder of the division of $x^3 - 12x^2 -42$, the dividend, by $x-3$, the divisor.
  • Division and Factors

    • Polynomial long division functions similarly to long division, and if the division leaves no remainder, then the divisor is called a factor.
    • We want to find integers $q$ and $r$ such that $0 \leq r < d$ and $D = qd+r.$ This we can do with long division, which we all learned to do in elementary school.
    • The beauty of long division is that the algorithm can be used not for integers only, but also for polynomials.
  • The Remainder Theorem and Synthetic Division

    • In algebra, the polynomial remainder theorem or little Bézout's theorem, is an application of polynomial long division.
    • An shorthand way to perform long division is synthetic division.
    • It also takes significantly less space than long division.
    • Most importantly, the subtractions in long division are converted to additions by switching the signs at the very beginning, preventing sign errors.
    • This is the same as long division, but it uses less lines and no variables.
  • Integer Coefficients and the Rational Zeroes Theorem

    • Once we have found all the rational zeroes (and counted their multiplicity, for example by dividing using long division), we know that the number of irrational and complex roots.
    • These root candidates can be tested, either by plugging them in directly, or by dividing and checking to see whether there is any remainder, for example using long division.
    • Moreover, once we have established a root, we must use division anyway to check whether it is a multiple root.
    • The disadvantage is that we have to use long division more often.
    • When there are a lot of zero candidates for a small degree polynomial, we may just want to plug in candidates and only use division when we have found a root.
  • Sums, Differences, Products, and Quotients

    • Dividing equations uses similar theory as multiplying, since division is the equivalent of multiplying by the inverse.
    • Use the idea of combining like terms to add and subtract functions, and the FOIL method and long division to multiply and divide functions
  • Partial Fractions

    • It is necessary to perform the Euclidean division of $f$ by $g$ using polynomial long division, giving $f(x) = E(X)g(x) + h(x)$.
  • Rules for Solving Inequalities

    • As long as the same value is added or subtracted from both sides, the resulting inequality remains true.
    • The properties that deal with multiplication and division state, for any real numbers, $a$, $b$ and non-zero $c$:
    • To see how the rules for multiplication and division apply, consider the inequality $2x > 8$.
  • Complex Conjugates and Division

    • The complex conjugate of x + yi is x - yi, and the division of two complex numbers can be defined using the complex conjugate.
    • The division of two complex numbers is defined in terms of complex multiplication (described above) and real division.
    • Division can be defined in this way because of the following observation:
    • Neither the real part c nor the imaginary part d of the denominator can be equal to zero for division to be defined.
  • Basic Operations

    • The basic arithmetic operations for real numbers are addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
    • Division is the inverse of multiplication.
  • Division of Complex Numbers

    • Division of complex numbers is accomplished by multiplying by the multiplicative inverse.
    • The key is to think of division by a number $z$ as multiplying by the multiplicative inverse of $z$.
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