Partial fractions Partial fractions

Example 1: Two different factors in the Example 2: Repeated factor in the

denominator- denominator:-
3x - 4 x+3
( x - 1)(3 x - 5) Simplifying algebraic fractions (4 - x)(2 + x) 2
Algebraic fractions are simplified by first
A B factorising the numerator and denominator: A B C
Step 1: Write it as: + Step 1: Write it as: + +
x - 1 3x - 5 8 x 2 - 12 x 4 x (2 x - 3) 4x 4 - x 2 + x (2 + x) 2
Step 2: Combine these two fractions: = = (Note carefully the forms of the denominators).
A(3x - 5) + B ( x - 1) 4x - 9
2
(2 x - 3) (2 x + 3) 2 x + 3
( x - 1)(3 x - 5) Algebraic long division Step 2: Combine these fractions carefully:
Step 3: Form an identity by comparing the tops A(2 + x ) 2 + B (4 - x)(2 + x) + C (4 - x)
of our fractions: You should be able to divide a polynomial by a
(4 - x)(2 + x) 2
3 x - 4 = A(3 x - 5) + B ( x - 1) quadratic.
Step 3: Form an identity comparing the tops of
Step 4: Find A and B by substituting in chosen
Example: Find the quotient and remainder when our fractions:
values for x: x + 3 = A(2 + x) 2 + B (4 - x)(2 + x) + C (4 - x)
If x = 1: -1 = -2A So A = 0.5 2 x 4 - 4 x 3 + 7 x + 1 is divided by x 2 + 2 .
2 Step 4: Find the values of A, B and C by
If x = 5/3: 1= B So B = 1.5 We need to included the terms with zero
3 coefficients when we set out the long division: substituting in chosen values for x:
Step 5: Therefore: If x = -2: 1 = 6C So C = 16
3x - 4 0.5 1.5
= + 2 x2 - 4 x - 4 If x = 4: 7 = 36A So A = 367
( x - 1)(3 x - 5) x - 1 3x - 5
x 2 + 0 x + 2 2 x 4 - 4 x3 + 0 x 2 + 7 x + 1 Finally choose any third value for x (such as
2 x 4 + 0 x3 + 4 x 2 � x = 0):
We can use this form to work out the integral:
- 4 x3 - 4 x 2 + 7 x 3 = 367 �4 + B (4)(2) + 61 �4
3x - 4 �0.5 1.5 �
�( x - 1)(3x - 5)
dx = �
� + dx
�
�x - 1 3x - 5 �
-4 x 3 + 0 x 2 - 8 x 3 = 139 + 8B
- 4 x 2 + 15 x + 1
9 = 8B
14

1 1 -4 x 2 + 0 x - 8
= 0.5� dx + 1.5� dx 15 x + 9
14
x -1 3x - 5 B= 9
= 7
36
8
1.5
= 0.5ln( x - 1) + ln(3 x - 5) + c Therefore the quotient is 2 x - 4 x - 4 and the
2 x+3 7 7 1
3 So (4 - x)(2 + x ) 2
= 36(4 - x) + 36(2 + x) + 6(2 + x) 2
remainder is 15x + 9.
= 0.5ln( x - 1) + 0.5ln(3 x - 5) + c