Can someone please help me understand how to Divide Polynomials?

Question

thestudyowl · Answer

So this is the project I'm working on right now and I'm having the hardest time understanding what there asking me to do. I think I understand the basics in dividing polynomials but I could really use some help with this. Any help is really appreciated! Thank you!

"Suppose you divide a polynomial by a binomial. How do you know if the binomial is a factor of the polynomial? Create a sample problem that has a binomial which IS a factor of the polynomial being divided, and another problem that has a binomial which is NOT a factor of the polynomial being divided."

anonymous · Answer

ex1) (x^2+2x+1)/(x^2-1)            <----- factor it
      =(x+1)(x+1)/(x-1)(x+1)    <--- factored form
      =(x+1)/(x-1)    <---the (x+1) cancels out

ex2.) (x^2+2x+1)/(x^2-2)
        = (x+1)(x+1)/(x-2)(x+2)     none of them cancels out

thestudyowl · Answer

@mysteriarch Ohhh! Ok I get it now!Thank you so much! It makes much more sense now. (: