Which expression shows the first step in dividing 5x + 3 by x?

Question:- Which expression shows the first step in dividing 5x + 3 by x?

Answer

The correct expression for the first step in dividing 5x + 3 by x is:

5x + 3 =5 + 3/ x

When dividing a polynomial by a single variable, the first step is to rewrite the polynomial as the sum of two terms: the value of the highest power of the variable referred to as the quotient and the balance that remains is known as the remainder of the equation.

In this case, it is 5x+3 divided by x as one can discern, the numeric coefficient of the term that has the highest power of the variable x, which is x^1, equals 5. Therefore, let the variable 5x be separated from the other term 3, and at last, divide 3 by x to get the desired expression 5 + 3/x.

This first step gives the setting or the groundwork of long division where the other, quotient (5) and the rest (3 / x) can be shifted and manipulated at another time to complete the division.