 Monic polynomial division over a ring

If $f(T)$ is monic of degree $k$ over a commutative ring, every polynomial has a unique expression $g=qf+r$ with $\mathrm{deg}r<k$. Cancel the highest remaining term successively; the leading coefficient one needs no inversion. Uniqueness follows because multiplication by a monic polynomial raises the degree of every nonzero polynomial by $k$, even when the ring has zero divisors. The same argument applies to an even central variable and central coefficients in a graded commutative algebra.