Help!

BabyBlue

New member
I need help desperately!
I am having problems with-what else? Divining polynomials.
I tried to post this once and somehow all my writing did not get posted properly. Okay here is the original problem:
a^8+a^6+a^4+3a-1 by a+1

So :shock: I add the missing powers: 7, 5,3, 2
Then I get for the begging of the quotient:
a^7
then:-a^6
So I multiply (+) 1 by (-)a^6 and I get -1a^6 correct? Because multiplying in algebra is: opposite=negative and same=positive
So, I try subtracting -1a^6 from +a^6, and they are saying it is wrong. Where did I slip? They are saying the next quotient is 2a^5? I was thinking in my head "what?"

I hope I am not bugging you great guys,
Amy

skeeter

Senior Member
Code:
      a^7-a^6+2a^5
---------------------------------------------------------
a+1 | a^8+0a^7+a^6+0a^5+a^4+0a^3+0a^2+3a-1
a^8+ a^7
--------------
-a^7+a^6+0a^5+a^4+0a^3+0a^2+3a-1
-a^7-a^6
-----------------
2a^6+0a^5+a^4+0a^3+0a^2+3a-1
2a^6+2a^5
-------------------
-2a^5+a^4+0a^3+0a^2+3a-1
can you finish?

BabyBlue

New member
Skeeter,
do you mean that because they are both opposite we add?
Then a+a= 2 and keep the same power?
Okay.. I am trying.
Yuck.. I feel sick. not because of you though
:wink:

skeeter

Senior Member
you do understand that you are subtracting the lower line of terms from the upper ... when you subtract a negative value, what happens?

Denis

Senior Member
Say you are subtracting -5x from +7x:
+7x
- 5x
===
+12x

I find the easiest way "to make sure" is check by going backward:
12x - 5x = 7x

BabyBlue

New member
I think I got it

Okay, so we bring down the a^5
and times the divisor 1 by +2a^5
and we get +2a^5
and we take away that from 0a^5
and we get negative 2a^5?

a^7-a^6-2a^4-2a^3-2a^2-2a+5
remainder=-4
:?
hopefully I am right.
Well got to go!
Love,
Amy

tkhunny

Moderator
Staff member
I am having problems with-what else? Divining polynomials.
That is an absolutely hilarious typo! It does descibe how some students approach polynomials. I am glad to see that you are trying to be a bit more down-to-earth about it. :lol:

tkhunny

Moderator
Staff member
Re: I think I got it

BabyBlue said:
and times the divisor 1 by +2a^5
No, you multiply it.
and we take away that from 0a^5
No, you subtract it.

Were you not ever mercilessly forced to do long division in grammar school? Really, it is EXACTLY the same,

stapel

Super Moderator
Staff member
tkhunny said:
Were you not ever mercilessly forced to do long division in grammar school?
Quite possibly not. Modern progressive (new-new) educationist thought says that there is no need for students to do long numerical division, since calculators can do it for them. Many curricula have had this topic specifically removed, and this is regarded by many educationist authorities, such as the NCTM, as being a good thing. :?

Of course, then we tutors and college teachers have to teach this elementary-school topic to our students, in order to explain so many other topics, lo, these many years later. Oy. :shock:

Eliz.

People,
I am still here

stapel

Super Moderator
Staff member
BabyBlue said:
People,
I am still here
Okay.... Did you have a question...? :?:

You've been provided with half of the worked solution, and tutors have attempted to figure out how to answer your other (somewhat befuddling) posts. If you are needing help with other details of this process (like how to combine "like" terms, or how to do arithmetic with negatives, or how to multiply polynomials, etc), then please reply with specifics.

Thank you!

Eliz.

tkhunny

Moderator
Staff member
stapel said:
Quite possibly not. Modern progressive (new-new) educationist thought ...
Well, there I am, out of the loop again.

In any case, I wanted to back off my position just a bit. The numerical long division uses only integers and uses the entire structure of the divisor in each step. The polynomial version is severely generalized, caring only about the first element at each phase and allowing noninteger and negative results. I think a numerical long division would have a problem with the answer 1(½)(-3)4.

stapel

Super Moderator
Staff member
tkhunny said:
The numerical long division uses only integers and uses the entire structure of the divisor in each step.
Roughly, yes. But if you look closely at the raw process, you'll note that the way you often find your first guess (in "A ÷ B"), as to how many times B will go into A, is to look at the first few (leading) digits of A and the first few digits, or rounded value, of B.

For instance, in dividing 295349 by 47, you wouldn't necessarily initially consider all of 295349 or the exact value 47. Instead, you might note that 47 is bigger than 29, so you won't be putting "1" on top of the long-division sign. Adding in another digit, you have 295 and 47. This is, roughly, 300 and 50, so try 6: (47)(6) = 282. This "fits" inside 295, so put "6" on top, put "282" underneath, and subtract.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat. :wink:

Eliz.

Mrspi

Senior Member
stapel said:
Lather. Rinse. Repeat. :wink:

Eliz.
That's wonderful, Eliz!

BabyBlue

New member
I am trying to be patient, but I do not like being laughed at. I am trying to learn. :?

morson

Full Member
doesn't look like anybody has laughed or made fun of you in this thread ... in fact, not a semblance of mockery/derision can be found in the posts above ...

stapel

Super Moderator
Staff member
Amongst the various partial solutions and explanations said:
...I am glad to see that you are trying to be a bit more down-to-earth about [this]. :lol:
BabyBlue said:
I am trying to be patient, but I do not like being laughed at.
It is to be regretted if you feel that the step-by-step instructions, the explanations, and the encouragement you've been offered are somehow meant to mock you. But I'm afraid there is little we can do to fix that particular situation. Sorry!

My best wishes to you in your studies!

Eliz.

BabyBlue

New member
Sorry if I took offense to easily

BabyBlue

New member

a^7-a^6+2a^5-2a^4+3a^3-3a^2-3a
fraction -1 over a+1

Staff member
BabyBlue said: