# Homework Help: Long hand polynomial division

1. Aug 28, 2013

### chris92

1. Hi I have a question I am stuck on it is:

(x3 + 2x2y - 2xy2 - y3)/(x-y)

Can anyone help?

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

Last edited: Aug 28, 2013
2. Aug 28, 2013

### HallsofIvy

What do you mean by "help"? What help do you need or want? You title this "long hand polynomial division" (I would have said just "polynomial division"- "long hand" makes me think of cursive writing!) so apparently you know what you are supposed to do. How many times does x divide into $x^3$? What do you do next?

3. Aug 28, 2013

### Ray Vickson

What you have written is not a polynomial; it is a rational function of the form
$$x^3 + 2 x^2 y -2xy^2 - \frac{y^3}{x}-y.$$ Did you intend to write
$$\frac{x^3 + 2x^2y-2xy^2-y^3}{x-y} ?$$
If that is what you meant you should have used parentheses, like this:
(x3 + 2x2y - 2xy2 - y3)/(x-y).

4. Aug 28, 2013

### chris92

Hi yes that is what I meant sorry .

5. Aug 28, 2013

### LeonhardEu

there is more in wikipedia too. Since this is a simple example i think you should check the basics of polynomial division. It's nothing too difficult, it simply requires a little practice.

Last edited by a moderator: Sep 25, 2014
6. Aug 28, 2013