Question

Math question

I am learning synthetic division, and I'm having trouble figuring out when to add a zero, please explain this to me

Answer 1

@dude @Hero @Shadow

Answer 2

so, in the first problem, there is no need to add a zero, but in the second problem we have to add a zero, why is this?

Answer 3

The zero represents the x-cubed term that is zero. If you have a nth degree polynomial, then it has n + 1 terms. In this case, you have a fourth degree polynomial so it will have five terms. The x-cubed term is the fifth term but since it is zero, they don't usually include it in the original expression.

Answer 4

In order to do synthetic equations, you have to have all the different terms. So in the first one you are not skipping a term, what I mean is the x^3 and the -6x^2 terms. In the second equation there is a zero because there is no x^3 term. You can't skip a term

Answer 5

@AyellowBlanket so every equation has to have a x^3 term?

Answer 6

No, it goes down in order. So if your highest term is x^2, then you need to have an x term and so on

Answer 7

If you have something like this: x^5+3x^3+x^2+17x+99, then you have to have 0 for the x^4

Answer 8

so if there was an x^4 there needs to be an x^3, x^2, and x term?

Answer 9

yes, it is progressive

Answer 10

thanks for explaining!

Answer 11

uw