Perform the operations and simplify completely (8x^3-12x^2+18x-27)/2x-3

1 answer

To simplify the expression \((8x^3 - 12x^2 + 18x - 27) / (2x - 3)\), we can use polynomial long division.

Step 1: Set up the long division

We want to divide \(8x^3 - 12x^2 + 18x - 27\) by \(2x - 3\).

Step 2: Divide the leading terms

  • Divide the leading term of the numerator \(8x^3\) by the leading term of the denominator \(2x\): \[ \frac{8x^3}{2x} = 4x^2 \]

Step 3: Multiply and subtract

  • Now multiply \(4x^2\) by the entire divisor \(2x - 3\): \[ 4x^2(2x - 3) = 8x^3 - 12x^2 \]
  • Subtract this from the original polynomial: \[ (8x^3 - 12x^2 + 18x - 27) - (8x^3 - 12x^2) = 18x - 27 \]

Step 4: Repeat the process

  • Now, divide the new leading term \(18x\) by the leading term of the divisor \(2x\): \[ \frac{18x}{2x} = 9 \]
  • Multiply \(9\) by the divisor \(2x - 3\): \[ 9(2x - 3) = 18x - 27 \]
  • Subtract this from the current polynomial: \[ (18x - 27) - (18x - 27) = 0 \]

Step 5: Conclusion

Since we reached a remainder of \(0\), the original polynomial \(8x^3 - 12x^2 + 18x - 27\) is exactly divisible by \(2x - 3\).

Thus, the result of the division is: \[ \frac{8x^3 - 12x^2 + 18x - 27}{2x - 3} = 4x^2 + 9 \]

So the simplified expression is: \[ \boxed{4x^2 + 9} \]