Chapter 2 · Question 6

State the division algorithm for polynomials and explain the meaning of quotient and remainder.

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Answer

Direct Answer

If p(x)p(x) and g(x)g(x) are polynomials with g(x)0g(x)\ne0, then p(x)=g(x)q(x)+r(x)p(x)=g(x)q(x)+r(x), where q(x)q(x) is the quotient and either r(x)=0r(x)=0 or degree of r(x)r(x) is less than degree of g(x)g(x).

Simple Explanation

It is like long division: dividend equals divisor times quotient plus remainder.

Exam-Ready Structure

For polynomials p(x)p(x) and g(x)g(x), g(x)0g(x)\ne0, there exist polynomials q(x)q(x) and r(x)r(x) such that p(x)=g(x)q(x)+r(x)p(x)=g(x)q(x)+r(x), where r(x)=0r(x)=0 or degr(x)<degg(x)\deg r(x)<\deg g(x). Here p(x)p(x) is the dividend, g(x)g(x) is the divisor, q(x)q(x) is the quotient, and r(x)r(x) is the remainder.

Key Points

  • If p(x)p(x) and g(x)g(x) are polynomials with g(x)0g(x)\ne0, then p(x)=g(x)q(x)+r(x)p(x)=g(x)q(x)+r(x), where q(x)q(x) is the quotient and either r(x)=0r(x)=0 or degree of r(x)r(x) is less than degree of g(x)g(x).