Divide.

StartFraction 14 x squared plus 27 x minus 20 Over 7 x minus 4 EndFraction

1 answer

To divide the polynomial \( 14x^2 + 27x - 20 \) by \( 7x - 4 \), we can use polynomial long division.

  1. Set up the division: \[ \frac{14x^2 + 27x - 20}{7x - 4} \]

  2. Divide the leading term of the numerator by the leading term of the denominator: \[ \frac{14x^2}{7x} = 2x \]

  3. Multiply \( 2x \) by the entire divisor \( 7x - 4 \): \[ 2x(7x - 4) = 14x^2 - 8x \]

  4. Subtract this result from the original polynomial: \[ (14x^2 + 27x - 20) - (14x^2 - 8x) = 27x + 8x - 20 = 35x - 20 \]

  5. Repeat the process with the new polynomial \( 35x - 20 \):

    • Divide the leading term: \[ \frac{35x}{7x} = 5 \]
  6. Multiply \( 5 \) by the divisor \( 7x - 4 \): \[ 5(7x - 4) = 35x - 20 \]

  7. Subtract this from \( 35x - 20 \): \[ (35x - 20) - (35x - 20) = 0 \]

Since the remainder is \( 0 \), we have: \[ \frac{14x^2 + 27x - 20}{7x - 4} = 2x + 5 \]

Thus, the final answer is: \[ 2x + 5 \]