Pre-Algebra Examples

$\frac{x - 8}{x + 4}$

Step 1

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

$x$

$4$

$x$

$8$

Step 2

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

					$1$
	$x$	+	$4$		$x$	-	$8$

Step 3

Multiply the new quotient term by the divisor.

Step 4

The expression needs to be subtracted from the dividend, so change all the signs in $x + 4$

Step 5

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

Step 6

The final answer is the quotient plus the remainder over the divisor.

$1 - \frac{12}{x + 4}$