Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Polynomial Long Division
Polynomial long division is a method used to divide polynomials, similar to numerical long division. It involves dividing the leading term of the dividend by the leading term of the divisor, multiplying the entire divisor by this result, and subtracting it from the dividend. This process is repeated with the new polynomial until the degree of the remainder is less than the degree of the divisor.
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Quotient and Remainder
In polynomial division, the quotient is the result of the division, representing how many times the divisor fits into the dividend. The remainder is what is left over after the division process, which cannot be divided by the divisor anymore. The relationship can be expressed as: Dividend = Divisor × Quotient + Remainder.
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Degree of a Polynomial
The degree of a polynomial is the highest power of the variable in the polynomial expression. It is crucial in polynomial division because it determines the order of the terms and helps in identifying when to stop the division process. For example, in the polynomial 6x^3 + 13x^2 - 11x - 15, the degree is 3, indicating that the leading term is x^3.
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