Division

Dividing Polynomials

Division of polynomials closely resembles simplifying fractions as demonstrated below:

Example example-dividing

There are two ways to proceed. Split the division into two fractions, each with only one term on top, and then reduce:

dividing1

...or, find the Greatest Common Factor (GCF) and factor it from the numerator and denominator, and cancel common factor(s):

dividing2

Either way, the solution is the same: x + 2.