Check if $ x+1 $ is a factor of $ x^{3}-5x^{2}+2x+8 $.

The synthetic division table is:

$$ \begin{array}{c|rrrr}-1&1&-5&2&8\\& & -1& 6& \color{black}{-8} \\ \hline &\color{blue}{1}&\color{blue}{-6}&\color{blue}{8}&\color{orangered}{0} \end{array} $$

Because the remainder equals zero, we conclude that the $ x+1 $ is a factor of the $ x^{3}-5x^{2}+2x+8 $.

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 + 1 = 0 $ ( $ x = \color{blue}{ -1 } $ ) at the left.

$$ \begin{array}{c|rrrr}\color{blue}{-1}&1&-5&2&8\\& & & & \\ \hline &&&& \end{array} $$

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

$$ \begin{array}{c|rrrr}-1&\color{orangered}{ 1 }&-5&2&8\\& & & & \\ \hline &\color{orangered}{1}&&& \end{array} $$

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

$$ \begin{array}{c|rrrr}\color{blue}{-1}&1&-5&2&8\\& & \color{blue}{-1} & & \\ \hline &\color{blue}{1}&&& \end{array} $$

Step 3 : Add down last column: $ \color{orangered}{ -5 } + \color{orangered}{ \left( -1 \right) } = \color{orangered}{ -6 } $

$$ \begin{array}{c|rrrr}-1&1&\color{orangered}{ -5 }&2&8\\& & \color{orangered}{-1} & & \\ \hline &1&\color{orangered}{-6}&& \end{array} $$

Step 4 : Multiply by the number on the left, and carry the result into the next column: $ \color{blue}{ -1 } \cdot \color{blue}{ \left( -6 \right) } = \color{blue}{ 6 } $.

$$ \begin{array}{c|rrrr}\color{blue}{-1}&1&-5&2&8\\& & -1& \color{blue}{6} & \\ \hline &1&\color{blue}{-6}&& \end{array} $$

Step 5 : Add down last column: $ \color{orangered}{ 2 } + \color{orangered}{ 6 } = \color{orangered}{ 8 } $

$$ \begin{array}{c|rrrr}-1&1&-5&\color{orangered}{ 2 }&8\\& & -1& \color{orangered}{6} & \\ \hline &1&-6&\color{orangered}{8}& \end{array} $$

Step 6 : Multiply by the number on the left, and carry the result into the next column: $ \color{blue}{ -1 } \cdot \color{blue}{ 8 } = \color{blue}{ -8 } $.

$$ \begin{array}{c|rrrr}\color{blue}{-1}&1&-5&2&8\\& & -1& 6& \color{blue}{-8} \\ \hline &1&-6&\color{blue}{8}& \end{array} $$

Step 7 : Add down last column: $ \color{orangered}{ 8 } + \color{orangered}{ \left( -8 \right) } = \color{orangered}{ 0 } $

$$ \begin{array}{c|rrrr}-1&1&-5&2&\color{orangered}{ 8 }\\& & -1& 6& \color{orangered}{-8} \\ \hline &\color{blue}{1}&\color{blue}{-6}&\color{blue}{8}&\color{orangered}{0} \end{array} $$

Remainder is the last entry in the bottom row $ \left(\color{red}{ 0 }\right)$.

Synthetic Division Calculator