The Tabular Method is used to divide the polynomials shown below. Write the degree of the quotient.

Solution:
Given:
[tex]\frac{x^3+2x^2+2x+1}{x+1}[/tex]Simplify:
[tex]\frac{x^3+2x^2+2x+1}{x+1}=\frac{(x+1)(x^2+x+1)}{x+1}[/tex]Cancel the common factor:
[tex]\frac{x^3+2x^2+2x+1}{x+1}=x^2+x+1[/tex]ANSWER: Thus, the degree of the quotient is two.