Long division of polynomials works just like the long (numerical) division you did back in elementary school, except that now you're dividing with variables.

Example: Divide  x2 – 9x – 10 by x + 1 Set up the problem like a long division

problem

Put the first variable from the outside (the divisor) into the first variable under the division sign

Multiply the answer by the advisor and place the answer under the polynomial

Subtract the two terms from the polynomial

Bring down the constant and start the process all over again

Put the first variable from the outside (the advisor) into the variable

Multiply the answer by the divisor and place the answer under the polynomial

Subtract and get a remainder of “0”

When the remainder of the division problem is “0” that means that the divisor goes into the problem evenly and the answer is a factor of the problem

So x-10 is a factor of the trinomial: x2 – 9x – 10 because x+1 goes into the trinomial evenly

The factors will be x+1 and x-10