In algebra and calculus, a polynomial function is used to chart out graphs and waves with much more complexity than a simple linear factor. to factor them, and cut them up into chunks that we humans can better understand. That's where the method comes in.
Old-fashioned long division can also be used to factor polynomials, but the synthetic method is often easier and faster. Advertisement Long Division You may be familiar with long division from grade school, so-named because it can be a hassle that takes forever to get results. To perform , you must multiply your divisor by a quotient number, then subtract the result from your dividend.
Then you repeat this step until you end up with a remainder which is smaller than the original divisor. If it divides evenly, you get zero remainder. Advertisement The long division method works if you want to, say, find out how many times 15 fits into 83.
It's good for whole numbers and very simple fractions, but when polynomial division gets thrown into the mix, long division immediately becomes much confusing and time consuming. Synthetic Division The synthetic division method simplifies this process by switching up the visual framework in which division is applied. Ultimately, we are trying to get the same result as long division, but if we use synthetic division, it arranges all the pieces we need into a neat grid that is easier to read.
A synthetic division calculator this process. Advertisement The simplest form of a polynomial is , als.
