Expert: Sherman D. - 6/12/2005

Question
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Followup

(x^3 + x^2) Divided By (x + 1)

wouldn't the quoitient be x^2.....a parabola  

Answer
(x^3 + x^2)/(x + 1)

(x^2(x + 1))/(x + 1)

x^2

Good question, but in a way, you are only half right.

Its a parabola and its not a parabola.

If you go to http://www.calculator.com/calcs/GCalc.html

you will find out that it forms a parabola, however if you like at x = -1, you will discover that the graph has a space missing, so its un unfinished parabola.

When you do it yourself, you would draw the parabola of x^2, but you will need to leave an open space at x = -1.

The graph when reduced becomes x^2, however the problem itself cannot equal -1 even though it reduces to x^2.

if you have any more questions about problems like these, just let me know.