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CoverupRuleinPartialFraction

CoverupRuleinPartialFraction

Introduction

Thecoverupruleisafastertechniqueinfindingconstantsinpartialfraction.We
assumethatthereaderalreadyknowssomeelementarymethodsofbreakingarational
functionintoitsappropriatepartialfraction.

Wecanonlyapplythecoveruprulewhenthedenominatorisaproductoflinearfactors.

Example1

Considerthepartialfraction

ToobtainAsimplycoverupthefactor(x1)withyoufingertipin

thenyouget:

andsubstitutethevaluex=1,giving

LikewisetoobtainBcoverupthefactor(x+2)in(1)
andevaluatewhatisleftatx=2,giving
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CoverupRuleinPartialFraction

Finallyyouget:

Example2

Iftherearethreefactors,wecanfindthecorrespondingconstantsjustbycoveringup
eachfactorinthedenominatoronebyoneandsubstitutetherootofthelinearfactor
coveredintheremainingfraction.

Thereadermaycheckthefollowing(dontpressthescreentoohardifyouareusing
LCDmonitor!):

Then:

Therefore:

Example3

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Supposethelinearfactorsinthedenominatorarenotlinear,thecoveruprulecanstill
behelpful.

Consider:

Coverup(x1)2withyourfingertipandputinx=1inwhatisleft:thisgives3.
Coverup(x2)2andputx=2inwhatisleft:thisgives5.
Soyouget:

Then:2x+1=A(x1)(x2)2+3(x2)2+B(x1)2(x2)+5(x1)2.

Equatex3coefficients,A+B=0
Equateconstantterm,1=4A2B+17
Solving,weget:A=8,B=8.

Example4

TheKeilysMethodisalsousefulforrepeatedlinearfactors.Thismethodistouseone
factoratatime,keepingtherestoutsidetheexpression.

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Pointtonote:Keilysmethodshouldbeusedwithcareifthefractionisimproperduring
theprocess,asinthefollowing:

InsidethebracketisimproperanddivisionisusedbeforeapplyingtheKeilysMethod.

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