First ask, what is? That is . After that you do what you normally do in long division... 3x^3 _________________________________________ x+1 | 3x^4 0x^3 -4x^2 4x 8 | | 3x^3 -3x^2 -x 5 _________________________________________ x+1 | 3x^4 0x^3 -4x^2 4x 8 | | 3x^4 3x^3 --------------- 0 -3x^3 -4x^2 -3x^3 -3x^2 -------------- 0 -x^2 4x -x^2 -x ---------- 5x 8 5x 5 ----------- 3