Check if $ x $ is a factor of $ x^{3}-5x^{2}+8x-4 $.

The synthetic division table is:

$$ \begin{array}{c|rrrr}0&1&-5&8&-4\\& & 0& 0& \color{black}{0} \\ \hline &\color{blue}{1}&\color{blue}{-5}&\color{blue}{8}&\color{orangered}{-4} \end{array} $$

Because the remainder $ \left( \color{red}{ -4 } \right) $ is not zero, we conclude that the $ x $ is not a factor of $ x^{3}-5x^{2}+8x-4$.

First we need to create a synthetic division table.

Step 1 : Write down the coefficients of the dividend into division table.Put the zero at the left.

$$ \begin{array}{c|rrrr}\color{blue}{0}&1&-5&8&-4\\& & & & \\ \hline &&&& \end{array} $$

Step 1 : Bring down the leading coefficient to the bottom row.

$$ \begin{array}{c|rrrr}0&\color{orangered}{ 1 }&-5&8&-4\\& & & & \\ \hline &\color{orangered}{1}&&& \end{array} $$

Step 2 : Multiply by the number on the left, and carry the result into the next column: $ \color{blue}{ 0 } \cdot \color{blue}{ 1 } = \color{blue}{ 0 } $.

$$ \begin{array}{c|rrrr}\color{blue}{0}&1&-5&8&-4\\& & \color{blue}{0} & & \\ \hline &\color{blue}{1}&&& \end{array} $$

Step 3 : Add down last column: $ \color{orangered}{ -5 } + \color{orangered}{ 0 } = \color{orangered}{ -5 } $

$$ \begin{array}{c|rrrr}0&1&\color{orangered}{ -5 }&8&-4\\& & \color{orangered}{0} & & \\ \hline &1&\color{orangered}{-5}&& \end{array} $$

Step 4 : Multiply by the number on the left, and carry the result into the next column: $ \color{blue}{ 0 } \cdot \color{blue}{ \left( -5 \right) } = \color{blue}{ 0 } $.

$$ \begin{array}{c|rrrr}\color{blue}{0}&1&-5&8&-4\\& & 0& \color{blue}{0} & \\ \hline &1&\color{blue}{-5}&& \end{array} $$

Step 5 : Add down last column: $ \color{orangered}{ 8 } + \color{orangered}{ 0 } = \color{orangered}{ 8 } $

$$ \begin{array}{c|rrrr}0&1&-5&\color{orangered}{ 8 }&-4\\& & 0& \color{orangered}{0} & \\ \hline &1&-5&\color{orangered}{8}& \end{array} $$

Step 6 : Multiply by the number on the left, and carry the result into the next column: $ \color{blue}{ 0 } \cdot \color{blue}{ 8 } = \color{blue}{ 0 } $.

$$ \begin{array}{c|rrrr}\color{blue}{0}&1&-5&8&-4\\& & 0& 0& \color{blue}{0} \\ \hline &1&-5&\color{blue}{8}& \end{array} $$

Step 7 : Add down last column: $ \color{orangered}{ -4 } + \color{orangered}{ 0 } = \color{orangered}{ -4 } $

$$ \begin{array}{c|rrrr}0&1&-5&8&\color{orangered}{ -4 }\\& & 0& 0& \color{orangered}{0} \\ \hline &\color{blue}{1}&\color{blue}{-5}&\color{blue}{8}&\color{orangered}{-4} \end{array} $$

Remainder is the last entry in the bottom row $ \left(\color{red}{ -4 }\right)$.

Synthetic Division Calculator