Partial fractions Example 1: Two different factors in the denominator3x 4 ( x 1)(3x 5) A B + x 1 3x 5 Step 2: Combine these two fractions: A(3

: A(3 x 5) + B ( x 1) ( x 1)(3x 5) Step 3: Form an identity by comparing the tops of our fractions: 3 x 4 = A(3 x 5) + B ( x 1) Step 4: Find A and B by substituting in chosen values for x: If x = 1: -1 = -2A So A = 0.5 2 If x = 5/3: 1= B So B = 1.5 3 Step 5: Therefore: 3x 4 0.5 1.5 = + ( x 1)(3x 5) x 1 3x 5 Step 1: Write it as: We can use this form to work out the integral: 3x 4 1.5 0.5 + dx ( x 1)(3x 5)dx = x 1 3x 5 1 1 dx + 1.5 dx x 1 3x 5 1.5 = 0.5 ln( x 1) + ln(3x 5) + c 3 = 0.5 ln( x 1) + 0.5ln(3 x 5) + c = 0.5

Partial fractions Example 2: Repeated factor in the denominator:x+3 (4 x)(2 + x ) 2 A B C + + 4 x 2 + x (2 + x) 2 (Note carefully the forms of the denominators). Step 1: Write it as:

Simplifying algebraic fractions Algebraic fractions are simplified by first factorising the numerator and denominator: 4 x (2 x 3) 8 x 2 12 x 4x = = 2 4x 9 (2 x 3) (2 x + 3) 2 x + 3 Algebraic long division

Step 2: Combine these fractions carefully: A(2 + x ) 2 + B (4 x)(2 + x ) + C (4 x) You should be able to divide a polynomial by a (4 x)(2 + x) 2 quadratic. Step 3: Form an identity comparing the tops of Example: Find the quotient and remainder when our fractions: x + 3 = A(2 + x) 2 + B (4 x )(2 + x) + C (4 x) 2 x 4 4 x3 + 7 x + 1 is divided by x 2 + 2 . We need to included the terms with zero coefficients when we set out the long division: 2 x2 4 x 4 x 2 + 0 x + 2 2 x4 4 x3 + 0 x2 + 7 x + 1 2 x 4 + 0 x3 + 4 x 2 4 x3 4 x2 + 7 x 4 x 3 + 0 x 2 8 x 4 x 2 + 15 x + 1 4 x 2 + 0 x 8 15 x + 9 Therefore the quotient is 2 x 4 x 4 and the remainder is 15x + 9.
2

Step 4: Find the values of A, B and C by substituting in chosen values for x: If x = -2: 1 = 6C So C = 1 6 7 If x = 4: 7 = 36A So A = 36 Finally choose any third value for x (such as x = 0): 7 1 4 + B (4)(2) + 6 4 3 = 36 13 3 = 9 + 8B 14 9 = 8B B= So
14 9

7 36

x+3 (4 x)(2 + x) 2

= 36(4 x) + 36(2 + x) + 6(2 + x) 2