How do you divide #(3x^2 + x – 15) /(x – 3)#?

1 Answer
Apr 9, 2018

Please look below.

Explanation:

The first step is to split the fraction into #2# fractions where one is a multiple of the divisor and the second is the left over algebra. So

#(3x^2 + x -15)/(x-3)#

becomes

#(3x^2-9x)/(x-3) + (10x-15)/(x-3)#

#=(3x(x-3))/(x-3) + (10x - 15)/(x-3) #
# = 3x + (10x-15)/(x-3)#

Repeating this process will divide the polynomial completely

# = 3x + (10x - 30)/(x-3) + 15/(x-3)#

#= 3x + (10(x-3))/(x-3)+ 15/(x-3)#

#= 3x + 10 + 15/(x-3)#

The process end here since the remaining fraction cannot be simplified further. And so:

#(3x^2 + x -15)/(x-3) = 3x + 10 + 15/(x-3)#