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Example

Finding the Quotient (15x3y35xy2)÷(5xy)(15x^3y - 35xy^2) \div (-5xy)

Divide a two-variable binomial by a negative two-variable monomial: (15x3y35xy2)÷(5xy)(15x^3y - 35xy^2) \div (-5xy).

Step 1 — Rewrite as a fraction. Place the polynomial in the numerator and the monomial in the denominator: 15x3y35xy25xy\frac{15x^3y - 35xy^2}{-5xy}.

Step 2 — Separate the terms. Split the fraction into two individual fractions: 15x3y5xy35xy25xy\frac{15x^3y}{-5xy} - \frac{35xy^2}{-5xy}.

Step 3 — Simplify each fraction. For the first term: 155=3\frac{15}{-5} = -3 (positive divided by negative gives a negative result), x3x=x31=x2\frac{x^3}{x} = x^{3-1} = x^2, and yy=1\frac{y}{y} = 1, giving 3x2-3x^2. For the second term: 355=7\frac{35}{-5} = -7, xx=1\frac{x}{x} = 1, and y2y=y21=y\frac{y^2}{y} = y^{2-1} = y, giving 7y-7y. Because the original expression subtracts 7y-7y, this becomes (7y)=+7y-(-7y) = +7y.

The quotient is 3x2+7y-3x^2 + 7y. This example combines several skills: rewriting a division expression as a fraction, dividing by a negative monomial (which flips the sign of each quotient term), and applying the Quotient Property independently to two different variable bases.

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Updated 2026-04-21

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