What do you do in synthetic division when there's a two digit number?
For example, this is what I'm synthetically dividing
3
2 5 7 3
3
1 8
8 times three is 24, so what should I do?
Thanks for your help
Tatie
Review the method at
http://www.sparknotes.com/math/algebra2/polynomials/section3.rhtml
You aren't doing it right
To perform synthetic division with a two-digit number as the divisor, you must first break down the division into individual steps. Here's how you can approach it:
1. Write out the dividend (the numbers being divided) and the divisor (the number you are dividing by) in the proper format. In your example, the dividend is 2573, and the divisor is 3.
2. Begin the process by looking at the first term of the dividend (2). Since the divisor is 3, consider how many times 3 goes into 2. As it doesn't go evenly, take the next term (5) and bring it down.
3. Multiply the number you brought down (5) by the divisor (3). In this case, 5 multiplied by 3 equals 15.
4. Write the result (15) underneath the next term of the dividend (7).
5. Add the result (15) to the next term of the dividend (7). This will give you a new number (22).
6. Repeat steps 3, 4, and 5 with the new number (22). Multiply this number by the divisor (3) and write the result underneath the final term of the dividend (3).
7. Add the result to the final term of the dividend, resulting in a new number.
In the end, your synthetic division will look something like this:
3 | 2 5 7 3
3
_____________
1 8 2
The quotient is 182, and the remainder is 2.
Note: In your question, you mentioned that 8 times 3 is 24. While this statement is relevant to multiplication, synthetic division involves a slightly different process.