# Synethic division

1. Jul 27, 2011

### flyingpig

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

I apologise that this is not in LaTeX, but i just couldn't find the codes

Use long division or synthetic division: (9x^4 -x^2 - 6x+2) / (3x-1)

3. The attempt at a solution

So the root is x = 1/3

P(1/3) = 0, no remaindar

1/3 | 9 0 -1 -6 2
......|...3 -1 0 -2
___________
.......9 -3 0 - 6 4

Where did i go wrong?

2. Jul 27, 2011

### ehild

What do you do really? If I guess well, the second line should be
3 -1 -6 2.

ehild

3. Jul 27, 2011

### SammyS

Staff Emeritus
You should ADD items in the first and second lines.

Don't forget to divide the result by 3.

4. Jul 27, 2011

### flyingpig

Sammy, why did you leave the physics forum? Come back!

5. Jul 27, 2011

### SammyS

Staff Emeritus
Gee, I think I'm still there --- or am I here ??

BTW: I've posted a couple of times in a recent Gauss's Law thread of yours.

6. Jul 28, 2011

### flyingpig

The problem was to divide $9x^4- x^2- 6x+ 2$ by 3x- 1. Your synthetic division is dividing by x- 1/3. That's why SammyS says you need to also divide by 3.