What is (m^2-7m-11) divided by (m-8)?

Question

FYI The questions I am asking are not homework. I have been out of school for five years. I am getting ready to take the ACT so that I can go to college. I was never good at math, and trying to teach myself the basics before the BIG test. Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

It's done like long division.

You're dividing m^2-7m-11 (numerator) by m-8 (denominator).

Find the term with the highest degree of m in the numerator (m^2), and divide by the term with the highest degree of m in the denominator (m). m^2/m = m, so the first part of the quotient is m.

Subtract m times the denominator from the numerator:

m^2 - 7m - 11 - (m * (m - 8) )
m^2 - 7m - 11 - m^2 +8m
m - 11

Now you have m-11 left in the numerator.

Find the term with the highest degree of m in what is left of the numerator (m), and divide by the term with the highest degree of m in the denominator (m). m/m = 1, so the second part of the quotient is 1.

Subtract 1 times the denominator from what is left of the numerator:

m - 11 - 1 * (m - 8)
m - 11 - m + 8
-3

There's your answer, either:

(a) m + 1 remainder -3

(b) m + 1 - ( 3 / (m - 8) )

... depending whether you are expected to state the remainder, or just show the leftover portion divided by the denominator.

Answer 2

(m + 1) with a remainder of -3