Pre-Algebra Examples

$x^{3} - 1$ , $x - 1$

Step 1

Divide the first expression by the second expression.

$\frac{x^{3} - 1}{x - 1}$

Step 2

Set up the polynomials to be divided. If there is not a term for every exponent, insert one with a value of $0$ .

$x$

$1$

$x^{3}$

$0 x^{2}$

$0 x$

$1$

Step 3

Divide the highest order term in the dividend $x^{3}$ by the highest order term in divisor $x$ .

					$x^{2}$
	$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	+	$0 x^{2}$	+	$0 x$	-	$1$

Step 4

Multiply the new quotient term by the divisor.

				$x^{2}$
$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	+	$0 x^{2}$	+	$0 x$	-	$1$
			+	$x^{3}$	-	$x^{2}$

Step 5

The expression needs to be subtracted from the dividend, so change all the signs in $x^{3} - x^{2}$

				$x^{2}$
$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	+	$0 x^{2}$	+	$0 x$	-	$1$
			-	$x^{3}$	+	$x^{2}$

Step 6

After changing the signs, add the last dividend from the multiplied polynomial to find the new dividend.

				$x^{2}$
$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	+	$0 x^{2}$	+	$0 x$	-	$1$
			-	$x^{3}$	+	$x^{2}$
					+	$x^{2}$

Step 7

Pull the next terms from the original dividend down into the current dividend.

				$x^{2}$
$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	+	$0 x^{2}$	+	$0 x$	-	$1$
			-	$x^{3}$	+	$x^{2}$
					+	$x^{2}$	+	$0 x$

Step 8

Divide the highest order term in the dividend $x^{2}$ by the highest order term in divisor $x$ .

				$x^{2}$	+	$x$
$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	+	$0 x^{2}$	+	$0 x$	-	$1$
			-	$x^{3}$	+	$x^{2}$
					+	$x^{2}$	+	$0 x$

Step 9

Multiply the new quotient term by the divisor.

				$x^{2}$	+	$x$
$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	+	$0 x^{2}$	+	$0 x$	-	$1$
			-	$x^{3}$	+	$x^{2}$
					+	$x^{2}$	+	$0 x$
					+	$x^{2}$	-	$x$

Step 10

The expression needs to be subtracted from the dividend, so change all the signs in $x^{2} - x$

				$x^{2}$	+	$x$
$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	+	$0 x^{2}$	+	$0 x$	-	$1$
			-	$x^{3}$	+	$x^{2}$
					+	$x^{2}$	+	$0 x$
					-	$x^{2}$	+	$x$

Step 11

After changing the signs, add the last dividend from the multiplied polynomial to find the new dividend.

				$x^{2}$	+	$x$
$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	+	$0 x^{2}$	+	$0 x$	-	$1$
			-	$x^{3}$	+	$x^{2}$
					+	$x^{2}$	+	$0 x$
					-	$x^{2}$	+	$x$
							+	$x$

Step 12

Pull the next terms from the original dividend down into the current dividend.

				$x^{2}$	+	$x$
$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	+	$0 x^{2}$	+	$0 x$	-	$1$
			-	$x^{3}$	+	$x^{2}$
					+	$x^{2}$	+	$0 x$
					-	$x^{2}$	+	$x$
							+	$x$	-	$1$

Step 13

Divide the highest order term in the dividend $x$ by the highest order term in divisor $x$ .

				$x^{2}$	+	$x$	+	$1$
$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	+	$0 x^{2}$	+	$0 x$	-	$1$
			-	$x^{3}$	+	$x^{2}$
					+	$x^{2}$	+	$0 x$
					-	$x^{2}$	+	$x$
							+	$x$	-	$1$

Step 14

Multiply the new quotient term by the divisor.

				$x^{2}$	+	$x$	+	$1$
$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	+	$0 x^{2}$	+	$0 x$	-	$1$
			-	$x^{3}$	+	$x^{2}$
					+	$x^{2}$	+	$0 x$
					-	$x^{2}$	+	$x$
							+	$x$	-	$1$
							+	$x$	-	$1$

Step 15

The expression needs to be subtracted from the dividend, so change all the signs in $x - 1$

				$x^{2}$	+	$x$	+	$1$
$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	+	$0 x^{2}$	+	$0 x$	-	$1$
			-	$x^{3}$	+	$x^{2}$
					+	$x^{2}$	+	$0 x$
					-	$x^{2}$	+	$x$
							+	$x$	-	$1$
							-	$x$	+	$1$

Step 16

After changing the signs, add the last dividend from the multiplied polynomial to find the new dividend.

				$x^{2}$	+	$x$	+	$1$
$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	+	$0 x^{2}$	+	$0 x$	-	$1$
			-	$x^{3}$	+	$x^{2}$
					+	$x^{2}$	+	$0 x$
					-	$x^{2}$	+	$x$
							+	$x$	-	$1$
							-	$x$	+	$1$
										$0$

Step 17

Since the remander is $0$ , the final answer is the quotient.

$x^{2} + x + 1$