# Different layout for “polynom”

The code

\documentclass{memoir}
\usepackage{polynom}

\begin{document}
\polylongdiv[style=B]{x^4 - 3x^3 + x^2 + 3x - 2}{x-1}
\end{document}


produces the following diagram of a polynomial division:

However, this is not how I'm used to notating polynomial division; I usually drag down all the terms and write them in every line, after each subtraction. For instance, I would like the third line to be -2x^3 + x^2 + 3x - 2 (instead of just -2x^3 + x^2) and the fifth line to be -x^2 + 3x - 2 (instead of just -x^2 + 3x). Is this possible to achieve somehow?

• This sounds like a major feature request for the polynom package. Have you attempted to contact the package's maintainer(s) to ask if such a feature might be provided? – Mico Oct 26 '14 at 18:27
• No not yet; I first wanted to ask if it could be solved with the current package. Another question at tex.stackexchange.com/questions/63354/… shows that it is possible to manipulate polynom. But yes, asking the maintainer may be the right thing to do. – Gaussler Oct 26 '14 at 18:38
• If you are willing to fill in all the steps, you could do the whole thing in a tabular. – John Kormylo Oct 26 '14 at 20:03
• – Steven B. Segletes Dec 28 '14 at 9:37

Of course, the downside is you must build it yourself...

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{fixltx2e}
\usepackage{tabstackengine}
\stackMath\TABbinary
\newsavebox\tempbox
\newlength\templen
\def\rl#1{%
\sbox\tempbox{$#1$}%
\setlength\templen{\wd\tempbox}%
\llap{\rule{1.5pt}{.1ex}}\rule{\templen}{.1ex}\rlap{\rule{1.5pt}{.1ex}}}
\setstacktabulargap{0pt}
\begin{document}
\tabularShortstack{crcrcrcrcl}{
&x^4&-&3x^3&+&x^2 &+&3x&-&2 = (x-1)(x^3 - 2x^2 -x +2)\\
-&x^4&+&x^3 & &    & &  & &\\
\rl{-}&\rl{x^4}&\rl{-}&\rl{3x^3}&&&&&&\\
&   &-&2x^3&+&x^2 &+&3x&-&2\\
&   & &2x^3&-&2x^2& &  & &\\
&&&\rl{2x^3}&\rl{-}&\rl{2x^2}&&&&\\
&   & &    &-&x^2 &+&3x&-&2\\
&   & &    & &x^2 &-& x& &\\
&&&&&\rl{x^2}&\rl{-}&\rl{3x}&&\\
&   & &    & &    & &2x&-&2\\
&   & &    & &    &-&2x&+&2\\
&&&&&&\rl{-}&\rl{2x}&\rl{+}&\rl{2}\\
&   & &    & &    & &  & &0
}
\end{document}


If you really wanted to extend the horizontal lines...

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{fixltx2e}
\usepackage{tabstackengine}
\stackMath\TABbinary
\newsavebox\tempbox
\newlength\templen
\def\rl#1{%
\sbox\tempbox{$#1$}%
\setlength\templen{\wd\tempbox}%
\llap{\rule{1.5pt}{.1ex}}\rule{\templen}{.1ex}\rlap{\rule{1.5pt}{.1ex}}}
\setstacktabulargap{0pt}
\begin{document}
\tabularShortstack{crcrcrcrcrl}{
&x^4&-&3x^3&+&x^2 &+&3x&-&2& = (x-1)(x^3 - 2x^2 -x +2)\\
-&x^4&+&x^3 & &    & &  & & &\\
\rl{-}&\rl{x^4}&\rl{-}&\rl{3x^3}&\rl{+}&\rl{2x^2}&\rl{+}&\rl{3x}&\rl{-}&\rl{2}&\\
&   &-&2x^3&+&x^2 &+&3x&-&2&\\
&   & &2x^3&-&2x^2& &  & & &\\
&&&\rl{2x^3}&\rl{-}&\rl{2x^2}&\rl{+}&\rl{3x}&\rl{-}&\rl{2}&\\
&   & &    &-&x^2 &+&3x&-&2&\\
&   & &    & &x^2 &-& x& & &\\
&&&&&\rl{x^2}&\rl{-}&\rl{3x}&\rl{-}&\rl{2}&\\
&   & &    & &    & &2x&-&2&\\
&   & &    & &    &-&2x&+&2&\\
&&&&&&\rl{-}&\rl{2x}&\rl{+}&\rl{2}&\\
&   & &    & &    & &  & &0&
}
\end{document}