9

I need to type a paper for a teacher, who hasn't seen the European division method, so that she could possibly use it in her curriculum.

I need something to look like this 

x^2+4x+4       Box(x+2) 
-(x^2 + 2x)
----------------
2x+4 
-(2x + 4)
-----------------
0
Speravir
  • 19,491
Person
  • 93

2 Answers2

10

Here is one way to do this:

enter image description here

Notes:

  • The booktabs package was used to provide flexible horizontal rules.
  • The \Ph macro uses \hphantom{)} to insert a horizontal space equivalent to the closing bracket to get things all aligned.

Code:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{booktabs}
\usepackage{array}
\newcommand*{\Ph}{\hphantom{)}}%
\begin{document}
$\begin{array}{r@{} r@{} r r}
  x^2 &{}+4x\Ph&{}+4\Ph       &\fbox{$(x+2)$} \\
-(x^2 &{}+ 2x) &\\
\cmidrule{1-2}
      & 2x\Ph &{}+4\Ph\\
      &-(2x\Ph &{}+4) \\
\cmidrule{2-3}
      & &0\Ph
\end{array}$
\end{document}
Community
  • 1
Peter Grill
  • 223,288
  • Thanks but how do I get an actual box for the x+2? I really appreciate your help. My gratitude. – Person Nov 09 '12 at 01:46
  • @Person: Use \boxed{($x+2$)} with amsmath loaded. –  Nov 09 '12 at 01:48
  • @HarishKumar: I was not aware of \boxed, but that seems to force the text inside the box to be in \text mode somehow even with $ $, so used \fbox instead. – Peter Grill Nov 09 '12 at 01:53
  • @PeterGrill: \boxed is defined by amsmath for mathmode. There is a similar \Aboxed in mathtools. If you use \boxed{(x+2)}, then it will be in mathmode. Don't use $. –  Nov 09 '12 at 02:17
  • @HarishKumar: Thanks. I am familiar with \Aboxed form my very first question posted on TeX.SE. But, am surprised that \boxed{$(x+2)$} compiled with x in text mode -- seems like a bug? – Peter Grill Nov 09 '12 at 02:43
4

Try looking at the package polynom.sty (CTAN, TeXdoc). It can even do the division for you.

kahen
  • 2,165