Math Is Fun Forum
You are not logged in.
- Topics: Active | Unanswered
Pages: 1
#1 2024-05-21 02:20:34
- mathxyz
- Member
- From: Brooklyn, NY
- Registered: 2024-02-24
- Posts: 1,053
Dividing A Polynomial By x - c
Problem 28; page 62.
This is just a discussion set of questions.
1. When dividing a polynomial by x - c, do you prefer to use long division or synthetic division?
2. Does the value of c make a difference to you in choosing?
Last question for today.
Offline
#2 2024-05-21 05:45:41
- Bob
- Administrator
- Registered: 2010-06-20
- Posts: 10,621
Re: Dividing A Polynomial By x - c
Long division every time.
Bob
Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you! …………….Bob 
Offline
#3 2024-05-21 08:19:12
- Phrzby Phil
- Member
- From: Richmond, VA
- Registered: 2022-03-29
- Posts: 50
Re: Dividing A Polynomial By x - c
I agree - long division. Synthetic, while a cool idea that it works, is unnecessary, and for students with so much else to learn in the course, just a lot of clutter.
World Peace Thru Frisbee
Offline
#4 2024-05-21 09:11:19
- mathxyz
- Member
- From: Brooklyn, NY
- Registered: 2024-02-24
- Posts: 1,053
Re: Dividing A Polynomial By x - c
Long division every time.
Bob
Ok. Why long division for you?
Offline
#5 2024-05-21 09:12:57
- mathxyz
- Member
- From: Brooklyn, NY
- Registered: 2024-02-24
- Posts: 1,053
Re: Dividing A Polynomial By x - c
I agree - long division. Synthetic, while a cool idea that it works, is unnecessary, and for students with so much else to learn in the course, just a lot of clutter.
What if you are taking a test and there are 5 minutes left?
Synthetic division leads you to the answer faster in place of guessing incorrectly.
You say?
Offline
#6 2024-05-21 09:54:16
- Bob
- Administrator
- Registered: 2010-06-20
- Posts: 10,621
Re: Dividing A Polynomial By x - c
(1) I plan my test time better than that so I'd have 10 minutes.
(2) Because I can see all the powers of x and I'm very neat with the layout I'm much less likely to make an error.
(3) I hate learning new stuff so if I've got a working method I like to stick to it.
Bob
Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you! …………….Bob
Offline
#7 2024-05-21 14:32:06
- mathxyz
- Member
- From: Brooklyn, NY
- Registered: 2024-02-24
- Posts: 1,053
Re: Dividing A Polynomial By x - c
(1) I plan my test time better than that so I'd have 10 minutes.
(2) Because I can see all the powers of x and I'm very neat with the layout I'm much less likely to make an error.
(3) I hate learning new stuff so if I've got a working method I like to stick to it.
Bob
Ok. Very good. You are smart.
Offline
Pages: 1