Why is it that I was taught to perform synthetic division to verify roots when I could much more easily perform direct substitution? I know synthetic division gives me the resulting polynomial after factoring out the root, but I can easily do that after I've verified a certain root will work.
Is there some secret message I didn't get? Or is it arguably easier?
P.S. This is usually used when we are taught the rational roots theorem and we are told to use synthetic division to verify which of the possible roots work. So... lot's and lot's of synthetic division...