Long Division

Before you divide anything, you must identify the value or expression that corresponds to:

• The divisor
• The dividend
• The quotient
• The remainder

Steps on dividing polynomials:

1. Write the dividend and divisor polynomial in descending powers of the literal variable
2. Divide the leading term of the dividend by the first term of the divisor to obtain the first term of the quotient
3. Multiply the divisor by this newly formed term term of the quotient using the Distributive Law and subtract the result from the dividend
4. Treat this remainder, obtained in step 3, along with the rest of the dividend as the new dividend and repeat steps 2 and 3 until the remainder is a degree lower than the divisor. 

In conclusion, we write down the result of the polynomial in x, P(x), by a binomial of the form x - a, is P(x) / x - a = Q(x) + R / x - a, where Q(x) is the quotient and the R is the remainder. You could also write it as  P(x) = Q(x) * (x - a) + R.

x^3 + 7x^2 + 7x - 6 / x + 2 = x^2 + 5x - 3

or

x^3 + 7x^2 + 7x - 6 = (x^2 + 5x - 3)(x + 2)

If possible, factor your answer to simplest form.