Use synthetic division to find the remainder when

4 - 5x - x^2 + 6x^3 is divided by 3x - 2

a) -1
b) 4
c) 0
d) 2

Question

Use synthetic division to find the remainder when

4 - 5x - x^2 + 6x^3 is divided by 3x - 2

a) -1
b)  4
c)  0
d)  2

anonymous · Answer

I understand synthetic division, however I've never dealt with a problem where I have to divide by the x with a coefficient greater than 1.

anonymous · Answer

solve 3x-2=0 to find the number you are synthetically dividing by.

anonymous · Answer

thanks!

anonymous · Answer

x=2/3 ?

anonymous · Answer

Yep, then do synth.div. as normal (remember to arrange the coefficients in the correct order).

anonymous · Answer

ok

anonymous · Answer

so do i change the 2/3 to a -2/3?

anonymous · Answer

No, just use the solution for x.

anonymous · Answer

ok

anonymous · Answer

If you were dividing by (x-2) then you would synthetically divided by 2, so for division by (3x-2) you synth.div. by 2/3.

anonymous · Answer

ok

anonymous · Answer

thank you

anonymous · Answer

so far, I have 4, -2.33, -2.55, and a remainder of 4.3

amistre64 · Answer

you didnt put your poly in decreasing order of degrees

amistre64 · Answer

also, consider factoring out the 3 form top and bottom ... might be useful

anonymous · Answer

thanks i'll try that out

amistre64 · Answer

4 - 5x - x^2 + 6x^3

          6/3   -1/3   -5/3    4/3
           0       4/3     2/3  -2/3
      ----------------------
2/3 )    2         1       -1    2/3

3(2/3) = 2  if im seeing it right

anonymous · Answer

yeh i got the same thing :D

amistre64 · Answer

good, then we are either both right, or both wrong :)

anonymous · Answer

:3

anonymous · Answer

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