3x⁴ - 12x³ - 12x² + 30x That's missing a constant term so we put + 0 on the end: 3x⁴ - 12x³ - 12x² + 30x + 0 We erase all the letters and exponents 3 -12 -12 30 0 To find f(2) by synthetic substitution: Put 2 on the left and draw a line: 2 | 3 -12 -12 30 0 |___________________ Bring down the 3: 2 | 3 -12 -12 30 0 |___________________ 3 Multiply the 3 on the bottom by the 2 at the left. Get 6. Put the 6 above and to the right of the 3, right under the first -12 2 | 3 -12 -12 30 0 | 6 3 Now combine the -12 and the 6, get -6, and write the -6 down below the bottom line, right of the 3 and underneath the 6. 2 | 3 -12 -12 30 0 | 6 3 -6 Multiply the -6 on the bottom by the 2 at the left. Get -12. Put the -12 above and to the right of the -6, right under the second -12 on the top row: 2 | 3 -12 -12 30 0 | 6 -12 3 -6 Now combine the two -12's, getting -24, and write the -24 down below the bottom line, right of the -6 and underneath the -12. 2 | 3 -12 -12 30 0 | 6 -12 3 -6 -24 Multiply the -24 on the bottom by the 2 at the left. Get -48. Put the -48 above and to the right of the -24, right under 30 on the top row: 2 | 3 -12 -12 30 0 | 6 -12 -48 3 -6 -24 Now combine the 30 and the -48, getting -18, and write the -18 down below the bottom line, right of the -24 and underneath the -48. 2 | 3 -12 -12 30 0 | 6 -12 -48 3 -6 -24 -18 Multiply the -18 on the bottom by the 2 at the left. Get -36. Put the -36 above and to the right of the -18, right under 0 on the top row: 2 | 3 -12 -12 30 0 | 6 -12 -48 -36 3 -6 -24 -18 Finally combine the 0 and the -36, getting -36, and write the -36 down below the bottom line, right of the -18 and underneath the -36, in the bottom right corner: 2 | 3 -12 -12 30 0 | 6 -12 -48 -36 3 -6 -24 -18 -36 Now it's finished, and f(2) = -36 (the number in the bottom right corner. Check synthetic substitution by direct substitution: 3x⁴ - 12x³ - 12x² + 30x 3(2)⁴ - 12(2)³ - 12(2)² + 30(2) 3(16) - 12(8) - 12(4) + 60 48 - 96 - 48 + 60 -48 - 48 + 60 -96 + 60 -36. So it's correct since direct substitution gives the same answer. Now you find f(3) the exact same way. Edwin