To simplify the expression (4a^3 - 8a^2 - 3a - 6) divided by (a^2 - 4), we can use polynomial long division. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Set up the expression in long division format: ___________________ a^2 - 4 | 4a^3 - 8a^2 - 3a - 6
Step 2: Divide the first term of the numerator (4a^3) by the first term of the denominator (a^2). The result is 4a.
4a
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a^2 - 4 | 4a^3 - 8a^2 - 3a - 6
Step 3: Multiply the divisor (a^2 - 4) by the quotient (4a). The result is 4a^3 - 16a.
4a
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a^2 - 4 | 4a^3 - 8a^2 - 3a - 6 - (4a^3 - 16a)
Step 4: Subtract the above result from the numerator.
4a
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a^2 - 4 | 4a^3 - 8a^2 - 3a - 6 - (4a^3 - 16a) ___________________ 8a^2 + 13a - 6
Step 5: Now, we need to divide the first term of the new numerator (8a^2) by the first term of the denominator (a^2). The result is 8.
4a + 8
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a^2 - 4 | 4a^3 - 8a^2 - 3a - 6 - (4a^3 - 16a) ___________________ 8a^2 + 13a - 6
Step 6: Multiply the divisor (a^2 - 4) by the new quotient (8). The result is 8a^2 - 32.
4a + 8
___________________
a^2 - 4 | 4a^3 - 8a^2 - 3a - 6 - (4a^3 - 16a) ___________________ 8a^2 + 13a - 6 - (8a^2 - 32)
Step 7: Subtract the above result from the numerator.
4a + 8
___________________
a^2 - 4 | 4a^3 - 8a^2 - 3a - 6 - (4a^3 - 16a) ___________________ 8a^2 + 13a - 6 - (8a^2 - 32) ___________________ 13a - 26
Step 8: Now, we need to divide the last term of the new numerator (13a) by the first term of the denominator (a^2). The result is 13.
4a + 8 + 13/(a-2)
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a^2 - 4 | 4a^3 - 8a^2 - 3a - 6 - (4a^3 - 16a) ___________________ 8a^2 + 13a - 6 - (8a^2 - 32) ___________________ 13a - 26
Step 9: Multiply the divisor (a^2 - 4) by the new quotient (13). The result is 13a - 52.
4a + 8 + 13/(a-2)
___________________
a^2 - 4 | 4a^3 - 8a^2 - 3a - 6 - (4a^3 - 16a) ___________________ 8a^2 + 13a - 6 - (8a^2 - 32) ___________________ 13a - 26 - (13a - 52)
Step 10: Subtract the above result from the numerator.
4a + 8 + 13/(a-2)
___________________
a^2 - 4 | 4a^3 - 8a^2 - 3a - 6 - (4a^3 - 16a) ___________________ 8a^2 + 13a - 6 - (8a^2 - 32) ___________________ 13a - 26 - (13a - 52) ___________________ 26
So, the simplified expression is 4a + 8 + 13/(a-2).
