Polynomial Division problem: [(x^4)+(3x^3)-3x+5]/(x+2)

[cswld]

Hi,

I have to find [(x^4)+(3x^3)-3x+5]/(x+2) and the answer I came up with is (x^3)+(x^2)-2x+1 + [-2/(x+2)]

I think this is wrong because I tried to check my answer by multiplying (x^3)+(x^2)-2x+1 by (x+2)/(x+2) and adding that answer to [-2/(x+2)], but the result was [(x^4)+(3x^3)-3x]/(x+2), which is not the same as the original equation above (it's missing the 5). There's no answer booklet so I don't know what I've done wrong. Can someone help me, please? Did I get the right answer and just do the checking wrong, or is it wrong altogether?

Thank you!

 

[stapel]

I have to find [(x^4)+(3x^3)-3x+5]/(x+2) and the answer I came up with is (x^3)+(x^2)-2x+1 + [-2/(x+2)]

What do you mean by "finding" the given expression? What were the instructions? Are you maybe supposed to be doing the indicated long polynomial division, expressing the result as a polynomial plus a rational-expression "remainder"?

If so, then I agree with the polynomial part of your answer, but not the remainder.

There's no answer booklet so I don't know what I've done wrong.

Since we can't see your steps, we don't know what you've done wrong, either. Sorry! Please reply with that information, so that we can try to help you locate the error. Thank you!

 

[sellon.d]

Hey, try checking your answer by multiplying your result by (x+2) and then add the remainder rather than (x+2)/(x+2). You will be surprised by the result. Remember that (x+2)/(x+2) is just 1. We divide out the factor (x+2), so in order to reverse the division process we multiply it back in.


Cheers

 

[sellon.d]

Hello,

Try checking your answer by multiplying by (x+2) and then adding the remainder instead of (x+2)/(x+2). Remember, (x+2)/(x+2) is just one. If you want to reverse the process of division, you have to multiply the number by the same number you divided it by (which in this case is x+2).

Cheers