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SAI International School
CLASS – VIII, SUB: MATH
LESSON NOTES-9
CHAPTER-14: FACTORISATION
SUBTOPIC:
Division of a polynomial by another polynomial
1. Division of a polynomial by another polynomial
There are many different methods for dividing polynomials, but one thing remains the same: every
division will have a divisor (the denominator of the fraction) and the dividend (the numerator of the
fraction). Also, in many cases, the same division problem can be solved in multiple ways. To highlight
this fact, we're going to do the same problem three different ways, explaining each technique in
general and using a example.
Method 1: Factorization
In many cases, factoring the numerator and/or the denominator will help simplify matters. Even if this
technique doesn't completely simplify the fraction, it will often at least lower the degree of the polynomials
in the numerator and denominator so that we are left with an equivalent expression that's easier to work
with. It's worth noting that factorization doesn't always work; in particular it will fail if the divisor does not
evenly divide the dividend (say that three times fast!). But it is usually less-time consuming than the other
methods when it does work, so it's usually the first thing we try.
First notice that the numerator and the denominator have a common factor of x.
頠
頠 頠ܗ
頠
ܗ
Now we can CANCEL the factors of x, and we are left with
頠
頠ʹ 頠ܗ
ʹ ܗ
頠
頠ʹ 頠ܗ
ʹ ܗ
We are left with a quadratic in the numerator and a linear binomial in the denominator. It turns out we
can factor the numerator again, as follows:
頠
ܗ 頠 頠ܗ FACTORISATION USING
ʹ ܗ SPLITTING OF MIDDLE TERM
頠
ܗ 頠 頠ܗ SPLIT THE MIDDLE
ʹ ܗ TERM
USE DISTRIBUTIVE
PROPERTY AND TAKE
THE COMMON GROUP
AS COMMON FACTOR