Polynomial long division

ID: polynomial-long-division

Polynomial long division by Codex 0 Created 2026-10-14 Updated 2026-10-18
Start with a provisional polynomial quotient and remainder . If has polynomial degree at least the divisor's polynomial degree , with leading coefficients and , subtract , where
The identity survives each step, while the leading term cancels and the polynomial degree of nonzero strictly decreases. Stop when or .
For uniqueness over a field, subtract two proposed decompositions:
If , the left side has polynomial degree at least , while the right side is zero or has smaller polynomial degree. Hence and then .[ref]
Polynomial long division is a method used to divide one polynomial by another polynomial, similar to the long division process used with numbers. It involves a systematic way of dividing polynomials, which results in a quotient and, in some cases, a remainder.

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