Polynomial division works similarly to ordinary long division, with the divisor polynomial having a lower degree than the dividend polynomial. The dividend is written as a multiple of the divisor plus a remainder, where the degree of the remainder is less than the degree of the original dividend. This process is repeated with the remainders as new dividends until the final remainder's degree is less than the divisor's degree. As an example, the document shows the polynomial 3x^3 + 2x^2 - 7x + 5 being divided by x + 3 through repeated use of this process.