Polynomial Long Division Calculator
Perform the long division of polynomials step by step
The calculator will perform the long division of polynomials, with steps shown.
Related calculators: Synthetic Division Calculator, Long Division Calculator
Solution
Your input: find $$$\frac{2 x^{4} - 3 x^{3} - 15 x^{2} + 32 x - 12}{x^{2} - 4 x - 12}$$$ using long division.
Write the problem in the special format:
$$$\require{enclose}\begin{array}{rlc}\phantom{\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}- 4 x-12}&\phantom{\enclose{longdiv}{}-}\begin{array}{rrrrr}\phantom{2 x^{2}}&\phantom{+5 x}&\phantom{+29}&\phantom{+32 x}&\phantom{-12}\end{array}&\\x^{2}- 4 x-12&\phantom{-}\enclose{longdiv}{\begin{array}{ccccc}2 x^{4}&- 3 x^{3}&- 15 x^{2}&+32 x&-12\end{array}}&\\\phantom{\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}- 4 x-12}&\begin{array}{rrrrr}\end{array}&\begin{array}{c}\end{array}\end{array}$$$
Step 1
Divide the leading term of the dividend by the leading term of the divisor: $$$\frac{2 x^{4}}{x^{2}}=2 x^{2}$$$.
Write down the calculated result in the upper part of the table.
Multiply it by the divisor: $$$2 x^{2}\left(x^{2}- 4 x-12\right)=2 x^{4}- 8 x^{3}- 24 x^{2}$$$.
Subtract the dividend from the obtained result: $$$\left(2 x^{4}- 3 x^{3}- 15 x^{2}+32 x-12\right)-\left(2 x^{4}- 8 x^{3}- 24 x^{2}\right)=5 x^{3}+9 x^{2}+32 x-12$$$.
$$$\require{enclose}\begin{array}{rlc}\phantom{\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}- 4 x-12}&\phantom{\enclose{longdiv}{}-}\begin{array}{rrrrr}\color{Green}{2 x^{2}}&\phantom{+5 x}&\phantom{+29}&\phantom{+32 x}&\phantom{-12}\end{array}&\\\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}- 4 x-12&\phantom{-}\enclose{longdiv}{\begin{array}{ccccc}\color{Green}{2 x^{4}}&- 3 x^{3}&- 15 x^{2}&+32 x&-12\end{array}}&\frac{\color{Green}{2 x^{4}}}{\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}}=\color{Green}{2 x^{2}}\\\phantom{\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}- 4 x-12}&\begin{array}{rrrrr}-\phantom{2 x^{4}}&\phantom{- 3 x^{3}}&\phantom{- 15 x^{2}}&\phantom{+32 x}&\phantom{-12}\\\phantom{\enclose{longdiv}{}}2 x^{4}&- 8 x^{3}&- 24 x^{2}\\\hline\phantom{\enclose{longdiv}{}}&5 x^{3}&+9 x^{2}&+32 x&-12\end{array}&\begin{array}{c}\phantom{2 x^{4}- 3 x^{3}- 15 x^{2}+32 x-12}\\\color{Green}{2 x^{2}}\left(\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}- 4 x-12\right)=2 x^{4}- 8 x^{3}- 24 x^{2}\\\phantom{5 x^{3}+9 x^{2}+32 x-12}\end{array}\end{array}$$$
Step 2
Divide the leading term of the obtained remainder by the leading term of the divisor: $$$\frac{5 x^{3}}{x^{2}}=5 x$$$.
Write down the calculated result in the upper part of the table.
Multiply it by the divisor: $$$5 x\left(x^{2}- 4 x-12\right)=5 x^{3}- 20 x^{2}- 60 x$$$.
Subtract the remainder from the obtained result: $$$\left(5 x^{3}+9 x^{2}+32 x-12\right)-\left(5 x^{3}- 20 x^{2}- 60 x\right)=29 x^{2}+92 x-12$$$.
$$$\require{enclose}\begin{array}{rlc}\phantom{\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}- 4 x-12}&\phantom{\enclose{longdiv}{}-}\begin{array}{rrrrr}2 x^{2}&\color{Red}{+5 x}&\phantom{+29}&\phantom{+32 x}&\phantom{-12}\end{array}&\\\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}- 4 x-12&\phantom{-}\enclose{longdiv}{\begin{array}{ccccc}2 x^{4}&- 3 x^{3}&- 15 x^{2}&+32 x&-12\end{array}}&\\\phantom{\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}- 4 x-12}&\begin{array}{rrrrr}-\phantom{2 x^{4}}&\phantom{- 3 x^{3}}&\phantom{- 15 x^{2}}&\phantom{+32 x}&\phantom{-12}\\\phantom{\enclose{longdiv}{}}2 x^{4}&- 8 x^{3}&- 24 x^{2}\\\hline\phantom{\enclose{longdiv}{}}&\color{Red}{5 x^{3}}&+9 x^{2}&+32 x&-12\\&-\phantom{5 x^{3}}&\phantom{+9 x^{2}}&\phantom{+32 x}&\phantom{-12}\\\phantom{\enclose{longdiv}{}}&5 x^{3}&- 20 x^{2}&- 60 x\\\hline\phantom{\enclose{longdiv}{}}&&29 x^{2}&+92 x&-12\end{array}&\begin{array}{c}\phantom{2 x^{4}- 3 x^{3}- 15 x^{2}+32 x-12}\\\phantom{\color{Green}{2 x^{2}}\left(\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}- 4 x-12\right)=2 x^{4}- 8 x^{3}- 24 x^{2}}\\\frac{\color{Red}{5 x^{3}}}{\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}}=\color{Red}{5 x}\\\phantom{5 x^{3}+9 x^{2}+32 x-12}\\\color{Red}{5 x}\left(\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}- 4 x-12\right)=5 x^{3}- 20 x^{2}- 60 x\\\phantom{29 x^{2}+92 x-12}\end{array}\end{array}$$$
Step 3
Divide the leading term of the obtained remainder by the leading term of the divisor: $$$\frac{29 x^{2}}{x^{2}}=29$$$.
Write down the calculated result in the upper part of the table.
Multiply it by the divisor: $$$29\left(x^{2}- 4 x-12\right)=29 x^{2}- 116 x-348$$$.
Subtract the remainder from the obtained result: $$$\left(29 x^{2}+92 x-12\right)-\left(29 x^{2}- 116 x-348\right)=208 x+336$$$.
$$$\require{enclose}\begin{array}{rlc}\phantom{\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}- 4 x-12}&\phantom{\enclose{longdiv}{}-}\begin{array}{rrrrr}2 x^{2}&+5 x&\color{Fuchsia}{+29}&\phantom{+32 x}&\phantom{-12}\end{array}&\\\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}- 4 x-12&\phantom{-}\enclose{longdiv}{\begin{array}{ccccc}2 x^{4}&- 3 x^{3}&- 15 x^{2}&+32 x&-12\end{array}}&\\\phantom{\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}- 4 x-12}&\begin{array}{rrrrr}-\phantom{2 x^{4}}&\phantom{- 3 x^{3}}&\phantom{- 15 x^{2}}&\phantom{+32 x}&\phantom{-12}\\\phantom{\enclose{longdiv}{}}2 x^{4}&- 8 x^{3}&- 24 x^{2}\\\hline\phantom{\enclose{longdiv}{}}&5 x^{3}&+9 x^{2}&+32 x&-12\\&-\phantom{5 x^{3}}&\phantom{+9 x^{2}}&\phantom{+32 x}&\phantom{-12}\\\phantom{\enclose{longdiv}{}}&5 x^{3}&- 20 x^{2}&- 60 x\\\hline\phantom{\enclose{longdiv}{}}&&\color{Fuchsia}{29 x^{2}}&+92 x&-12\\&&-\phantom{29 x^{2}}&\phantom{+92 x}&\phantom{-12}\\\phantom{\enclose{longdiv}{}}&&29 x^{2}&- 116 x&-348\\\hline\phantom{\enclose{longdiv}{}}&&&\color{OrangeRed}{208 x}&\color{OrangeRed}{+336}\end{array}&\begin{array}{c}\phantom{2 x^{4}- 3 x^{3}- 15 x^{2}+32 x-12}\\\phantom{\color{Green}{2 x^{2}}\left(\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}- 4 x-12\right)=2 x^{4}- 8 x^{3}- 24 x^{2}}\\\phantom{5 x^{3}+9 x^{2}+32 x-12}\\\phantom{5 x^{3}+9 x^{2}+32 x-12}\\\phantom{\color{Red}{5 x}\left(\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}- 4 x-12\right)=5 x^{3}- 20 x^{2}- 60 x}\\\frac{\color{Fuchsia}{29 x^{2}}}{\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}}=\color{Fuchsia}{29}\\\phantom{29 x^{2}+92 x-12}\\\color{Fuchsia}{29}\left(\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}- 4 x-12\right)=29 x^{2}- 116 x-348\\\phantom{208 x+336}\end{array}\end{array}$$$
Since the degree of the remainder is less than the degree of the divisor, then we are done.
The resulting table is shown once more:
$$$\require{enclose}\begin{array}{rlc}\phantom{\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}- 4 x-12}&\phantom{\enclose{longdiv}{}-}\begin{array}{rrrrr}\color{Green}{2 x^{2}}&\color{Red}{+5 x}&\color{Fuchsia}{+29}&\phantom{+32 x}&\phantom{-12}\end{array}&Hints\\\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}- 4 x-12&\phantom{-}\enclose{longdiv}{\begin{array}{ccccc}\color{Green}{2 x^{4}}&- 3 x^{3}&- 15 x^{2}&+32 x&-12\end{array}}&\frac{\color{Green}{2 x^{4}}}{\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}}=\color{Green}{2 x^{2}}\\\phantom{\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}- 4 x-12}&\begin{array}{rrrrr}-\phantom{2 x^{4}}&\phantom{- 3 x^{3}}&\phantom{- 15 x^{2}}&\phantom{+32 x}&\phantom{-12}\\\phantom{\enclose{longdiv}{}}2 x^{4}&- 8 x^{3}&- 24 x^{2}\\\hline\phantom{\enclose{longdiv}{}}&\color{Red}{5 x^{3}}&+9 x^{2}&+32 x&-12\\&-\phantom{5 x^{3}}&\phantom{+9 x^{2}}&\phantom{+32 x}&\phantom{-12}\\\phantom{\enclose{longdiv}{}}&5 x^{3}&- 20 x^{2}&- 60 x\\\hline\phantom{\enclose{longdiv}{}}&&\color{Fuchsia}{29 x^{2}}&+92 x&-12\\&&-\phantom{29 x^{2}}&\phantom{+92 x}&\phantom{-12}\\\phantom{\enclose{longdiv}{}}&&29 x^{2}&- 116 x&-348\\\hline\phantom{\enclose{longdiv}{}}&&&\color{OrangeRed}{208 x}&\color{OrangeRed}{+336}\end{array}&\begin{array}{c}\phantom{2 x^{4}- 3 x^{3}- 15 x^{2}+32 x-12}\\\color{Green}{2 x^{2}}\left(\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}- 4 x-12\right)=2 x^{4}- 8 x^{3}- 24 x^{2}\\\frac{\color{Red}{5 x^{3}}}{\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}}=\color{Red}{5 x}\\\phantom{5 x^{3}+9 x^{2}+32 x-12}\\\color{Red}{5 x}\left(\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}- 4 x-12\right)=5 x^{3}- 20 x^{2}- 60 x\\\frac{\color{Fuchsia}{29 x^{2}}}{\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}}=\color{Fuchsia}{29}\\\phantom{29 x^{2}+92 x-12}\\\color{Fuchsia}{29}\left(\color{Magenta}{x^{2}}- 4 x-12\right)=29 x^{2}- 116 x-348\\\phantom{208 x+336}\end{array}\end{array}$$$
Therefore, $$$\frac{2 x^{4} - 3 x^{3} - 15 x^{2} + 32 x - 12}{x^{2} - 4 x - 12}=2 x^{2} + 5 x + 29+\frac{208 x + 336}{x^{2} - 4 x - 12}$$$
Answer: $$$\frac{2 x^{4} - 3 x^{3} - 15 x^{2} + 32 x - 12}{x^{2} - 4 x - 12}=2 x^{2} + 5 x + 29+\frac{208 x + 336}{x^{2} - 4 x - 12}$$$