Synthetic division (small part of a bigger problem)

[graycolor]

(x^3-2)/(x^2+11x+24) can't seem to simplify this I get x+(-11x^2-24x-2)/(x^2+11x+24) that doesn't seem right.

 

[Dick]

It's right but why do you still have a quadratic term in the numerator and denominator of the remainder? That's not really a proper remainder, is it? Don't you want x-11+remainder?

 

[graycolor]

I've thought about doing synthetic division again with the remainder... would that be right. If I did I would get -11 that would cross out with my +11 and add a remainder.

 

[Dick]

I've thought about doing synthetic division again with the remainder... would that be right. If I did I would get -11 that would cross out with my +11 and add a remainder.

"Cross out with +11"? What +11? Yes, the quotient should be x-11 and the remainder a linear polynomial over x^2+11x+24.

 

[HallsofIvy]

First of all, you aren't doing "synthetic division". Synthetic division is used to divide a polynomial by a first order term of the form x- a only. What you are doing is just division with polynomials.

It's hard to comment since you didn't show your work. Did you handle the "0x²" and "0x" in the dividend properly?