Question

How do you use synthetic division to divide`(x^2-8x+6)` by `x+2`?

Answer 1

Follow the set up and operation as explained below:

Explanation:

(x^2 - 8x + 6) / (x + 2) using synthetic division

set it up like this: in the first row write down the coefficients , second row write down the root given in factor x + 2 = 0, x = -2, then in the last row just bring down the first coefficient as you see below:

...... 1 ....... -8 ...... 6
-2 .| ↓
...... 1

now the operation: multiply -2 by 1 and write the results in the second row under -8 , then just add them up and enter it in the 3rd row, repeat the above until you get the remainder as follow:

...... 1 ....... -8 ...... 6
-2 .| ↓ ....... -2 ..... 20
...... 1 ....... -10 ......26 => Remainder

= x - 10 + 26/(x + 2)