Question

Divide the polynomials.
Your answer should be a polynomial.
x²-16
/
x+4

Answer 1

x - 4

Explanation:

The quickest way to do this is to Factor and "cancel". (Cancelling is not a mathematical term--it really is dividing)

x^2 - 16 is the difference of two squares. Its super-beneficial to recognize a difference of two squares and its factored form:

(x - 4)(x + 4)

Now you have:

(x - 4 )(x + 4) / x+4

The x+4 term "cancels" and you end up with x-4 as your answer.

You could also do this division problem using long division or synthetic division. You will get the same answer.