In algebra, synthetic division is a method of performing polynomial long division, with less writing and fewer calculations. It is mostly taught for division by binomials of the form
but the method generalizes to division by any monic polynomial.
The most useful aspects of synthetic division are that it allows one to calculate without writing variables and uses fewer calculations. As well, it takes significantly less space than long division. Most importantly, the subtractions in long division are converted to additions by switching the signs at the very beginning, preventing sign errors.
Synthetic division for linear denominators is also called division through Ruffini's rule.
Read more about Synthetic Division: Regular Synthetic Division
Famous quotes containing the words synthetic and/or division:
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