Verified Answer :

  • Begin by dividing the lead term of the dividend, \(2x^3\), by the lead term of the divisor, \(2x^2\), yielding the quotient's first term, \(x\).
  • Multiply the divisor by \(x\) and subtract the product from the dividend, resulting in a new partial dividend: \(-8x^2 + 2x - 15\).
  • Divide the new leading term \(-8x^2\) by \(2x^2\) to get the second quotient term, \(-4\), then subtract \(-4(2x^2 + 5)\) from the current partial dividend to obtain the final remainder, \(2x + 5\).
  • The resulting quotient is \(\boxed{x - 4}\) and the remainder is \(\boxed{2x + 5}\).

Explanation

  1. Problem Analysis

We are asked to find the quotient and remainder for the division of the polynomial \(P(x) = 2x^3 - 8x^2 + 7x - 15\) by the polynomial \(D(x) = 2x^2 + 5\). Using polynomial long division, we can express the dividend as \(P(x) = D(x)Q(x) + R(x)\), where \(Q(x)\) is the quotient and \(R(x)\) is the remainder. The degree of the remainder \(R(x)\) must be strictly less than the degree of the divisor \(D(x)\). Since the divisor \(D(x) = 2x^2 + 5\) has a degree of 2, the remainder \(R(x)\) must be a polynomial of degree at most 1, of the form \(ax + b\).

  1. First Step of Division

To start the long division, we divide the leading term of the dividend (\(2x^3\)) by the leading term of the divisor (\(2x^2\)). This gives the first term of the quotient: \(\frac{2x^3}{2x^2} = x\). Now, we multiply this term by the entire divisor: \(x \cdot (2x^2 + 5) = 2x^3 + 5x\). Subtracting this from the original polynomial, we get: \((2x^3 - 8x^2 + 7x - 15) - (2x^3 + 5x) = -8x^2 + 2x - 15\).

  1. Completion of Division

Next, we divide the leading term of the new partial dividend (\(-8x^2\)) by the leading term of the divisor (\(2x^2\)). This gives the second term of the quotient: \(\frac{-8x^2}{2x^2} = -4\). Now, multiply this term by the entire divisor: \(-4 \cdot (2x^2 + 5) = -8x^2 - 20\). Subtracting this result from the current partial dividend, we obtain: \((-8x^2 + 2x - 15) - (-8x^2 - 20) = 2x + (-15 + 20) = 2x + 5\). Since the degree of \(2x + 5\) is 1, which is less than the degree of the divisor \(2x^2 + 5\) (which is 2), the division process stops. Thus, the quotient is \(x - 4\) and the remainder is \(2x + 5\).

Examples

Polynomial long division is widely used in algebra and calculus, such as in performing partial fraction decomposition to simplify complicated integrals. For instance, if you were integrating a rational function, dividing the numerator by the denominator is the first step to break it down into simpler, integrable parts. Similarly, computer scientists use these algorithms in error-detecting codes and cryptography to process and verify data efficiently. Understanding how to manage polynomial division allows for a deeper grasp of how complex functions behave.