Check if $ x-2 $ is a factor of $ -x^{3}+8x+20 $.

The synthetic division table is:

$$ \begin{array}{c|rrrr}2&-1&0&8&20\\& & -2& -4& \color{black}{8} \\ \hline &\color{blue}{-1}&\color{blue}{-2}&\color{blue}{4}&\color{orangered}{28} \end{array} $$

Because the remainder $ \left( \color{red}{ 28 } \right) $ is not zero, we conclude that the $ x-2 $ is not a factor of $ -x^{3}+8x+20$.

First we need to create a synthetic division table.

Step 1 : Write down the coefficients of the dividend into division table. Put the zero from $ x -2 = 0 $ ( $ x = \color{blue}{ 2 } $ ) at the left.

$$ \begin{array}{c|rrrr}\color{blue}{2}&-1&0&8&20\\& & & & \\ \hline &&&& \end{array} $$

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

$$ \begin{array}{c|rrrr}2&\color{orangered}{ -1 }&0&8&20\\& & & & \\ \hline &\color{orangered}{-1}&&& \end{array} $$

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

$$ \begin{array}{c|rrrr}\color{blue}{2}&-1&0&8&20\\& & \color{blue}{-2} & & \\ \hline &\color{blue}{-1}&&& \end{array} $$

Step 3 : Add down last column: $ \color{orangered}{ 0 } + \color{orangered}{ \left( -2 \right) } = \color{orangered}{ -2 } $

$$ \begin{array}{c|rrrr}2&-1&\color{orangered}{ 0 }&8&20\\& & \color{orangered}{-2} & & \\ \hline &-1&\color{orangered}{-2}&& \end{array} $$

Step 4 : Multiply by the number on the left, and carry the result into the next column: $ \color{blue}{ 2 } \cdot \color{blue}{ \left( -2 \right) } = \color{blue}{ -4 } $.

$$ \begin{array}{c|rrrr}\color{blue}{2}&-1&0&8&20\\& & -2& \color{blue}{-4} & \\ \hline &-1&\color{blue}{-2}&& \end{array} $$

Step 5 : Add down last column: $ \color{orangered}{ 8 } + \color{orangered}{ \left( -4 \right) } = \color{orangered}{ 4 } $

$$ \begin{array}{c|rrrr}2&-1&0&\color{orangered}{ 8 }&20\\& & -2& \color{orangered}{-4} & \\ \hline &-1&-2&\color{orangered}{4}& \end{array} $$

Step 6 : Multiply by the number on the left, and carry the result into the next column: $ \color{blue}{ 2 } \cdot \color{blue}{ 4 } = \color{blue}{ 8 } $.

$$ \begin{array}{c|rrrr}\color{blue}{2}&-1&0&8&20\\& & -2& -4& \color{blue}{8} \\ \hline &-1&-2&\color{blue}{4}& \end{array} $$

Step 7 : Add down last column: $ \color{orangered}{ 20 } + \color{orangered}{ 8 } = \color{orangered}{ 28 } $

$$ \begin{array}{c|rrrr}2&-1&0&8&\color{orangered}{ 20 }\\& & -2& -4& \color{orangered}{8} \\ \hline &\color{blue}{-1}&\color{blue}{-2}&\color{blue}{4}&\color{orangered}{28} \end{array} $$

Remainder is the last entry in the bottom row $ \left(\color{red}{ 28 }\right)$.

Synthetic Division Calculator