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N (x) N1 (x)
= P (x) +
D(x) D(x)
where the degree of N1 (x) is less than the degree of D(x). Apply the next
steps to ND(x)
1 (x)
.
3. For each factor of the form (px + q)m , the partial fractions decomposition
must include the following m terms.
A1 A2 Am
+ 2
+ ··· +
px + q (px + q) (px + q)m
4. For each factor of the form (ax2 + bx + c)n , the partial fractions decom-
position must include the following n terms.
B1 x + C1 B2 x + C2 Bn x + Cn
2
+ 2 2
+ ··· +
ax + bx + c (ax + bx + c) (ax2 + bx + c)n
x2 + 5x + 4 A B C
= + + (∗)
(x − 1)(x − 3)(x + 2) x−1 x−3 x+2
The cover-up method combines these two steps in a single one as follows. To
find A, we cover up (x − 1) and set x = 1 in the left-hand side of (∗).
x2 + 5x + 4
5
A= =−
(x−1) (x − 3)(x + 2) x=1
3
x2 + 5x + 4
2
C= =−
(x − 1)(x − 3)
(x+ 2) x=−2
15