Partial Fractions

1. Distinct Linear Factors

𝑓(𝑥)
(𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑏1 )(𝑎2 𝑥 + 𝑏2 ) … (𝑎𝑛 𝑥 + 𝑏𝑛 )
𝐴1 𝐴2 𝐴𝑛
= + + ⋯+
(𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑏1 ) (𝑎2 𝑥 + 𝑏2 ) (𝑎𝑛 𝑥 + 𝑏𝑛 )

Example 1.1:
3𝑥 + 5 𝐴 𝐵
= +
(𝑥 − 3)(2𝑥 + 1) (𝑥 − 3) (2𝑥 + 1)

Multiply both sides by the denominator

3𝑥 + 5 (𝑥 − 3)(2𝑥 + 1) 𝐴(𝑥 − 3)(2𝑥 + 1) 𝐵(𝑥 − 3)(2𝑥 + 1)
⟹ = +
(𝑥 − 3)(2𝑥 + 1) (𝑥 − 3) (2𝑥 + 1)
⟹ 3𝑥 + 5 = 𝐴(2𝑥 + 1) + 𝐵(𝑥 − 3)

We need to find the values of 𝐴 and 𝐵, so we take turns eliminating each to find
the value of the other.
1
From 2𝑥 + 1, we get that 𝑥 = − and insert that in the equation.
2

1 1 1
⟹ 3 (− ) + 5 = 𝐴 (2 (− ) + 1) + 𝐵 (− − 3)
2 2 2
A is eliminated, leaving us to find the value for B:
7 7
⟹ =− 𝐵
2 2
⟹ 𝐵 = −1

Group 2 MATH 1115 Sem 1 2019/2020

We then look to find the value of A.
From 𝑥 − 3, we get that 𝑥 = 3 and insert that in the equation.
⟹ 3(3) + 5 = 𝐴(2(3) + 1) + 𝐵(3 − 3)
⟹ 14 = 7𝐴
14
⟹𝐴= =2
7
Therefore,
3𝑥 + 5 2 1
= −
(𝑥 − 3)(2𝑥 + 1) (𝑥 − 3) (2𝑥 + 1)

Example 1.2:
5𝑥 + 4 𝐴 𝐵
= +
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 1) (𝑥 + 2) (𝑥 − 1)

Multiply both sides by the denominator

5𝑥 + 4 (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 1) 𝐴(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 1) 𝐵(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 1)
⟹ = +
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 1) (𝑥 + 2) (𝑥 − 1)
⟹ 5𝑥 + 4 = 𝐴(𝑥 − 1) + 𝐵(𝑥 + 2)
We need to find the values of 𝐴 and 𝐵, so we take turns eliminating each to find
the value of the other.
From (𝑥 − 1), we get that 𝑥 = 1 and insert that in the equation.
⟹ 5(1) + 4 = 𝐴(1 − 1) + 𝐵(1 + 2)
A is eliminated, leaving us to find the value for B:
⟹ 9 = 3𝐵
⟹𝐵=3

Group 2 MATH 1115 Sem 1 2019/2020

We then look to find the value of A.
From (𝑥 + 2), we get that 𝑥 = −2 and insert that in the equation.
⟹ 5(−2) + 4 = 𝐴(−2 − 1) + 𝐵(−2 + 2)
B is eliminated, leaving us to find the value for a:
⟹ −6 = −3𝐴
⟹𝐴=2

Therefore,
5𝑥 + 4 2 3
= +
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 1) (𝑥 + 2) (𝑥 − 1)

2. Repeated Linear Factors

𝑓(𝑥)
(𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏)𝑛
𝐴1 𝐴2 𝐴𝑛
= + + ⋯ +
(𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏) (𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏)1 (𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏)2

Example 2.1:
3𝑥 + 1 𝐴 𝐵
= +
(𝑥 − 1)2 (𝑥 − 1) (𝑥 − 1)2

Multiply both sides by the denominator

3𝑥 + 1(𝑥 − 1)2 𝐴(𝑥 − 1)2 𝐵(𝑥 − 1)2
⟹ = +
(𝑥 − 1)2 (𝑥 − 1) (𝑥 − 1)2
⟹ 3𝑥 + 1 = 𝐴(𝑥 − 1) + 𝐵

Group 2 MATH 1115 Sem 1 2019/2020

From 𝑥 − 1, we get 𝑥 = 1
⟹ 3(1) + 1 = 𝐴(1 − 1) + 𝐵
⟹4=𝐵
To find the value of A, we insert the value of B and let 𝑥 = 0.
⟹ 3(0) + 1 = 𝐴(0 − 1) + 4
⟹ 1 = −1𝐴 + 4
⟹𝐴=4−1
⟹𝐴=3
Therefore,
3𝑥 + 1 3 4
= +
(𝑥 − 1)2 (𝑥 − 1) (𝑥 − 1)2

3. Distinct Irreducible Quadratic Factors

𝑓(𝑥)
(𝑎1 𝑥 2 + 𝑏1 𝑥 + 𝑐1 )(𝑎2 𝑥 2 + 𝑏2 𝑥 + 𝑐2 ) … (𝑎𝑛 𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑛 𝑥 + 𝑐𝑛 )

𝐴1 𝑥 + 𝐵1 𝐴2 𝑥 + 𝐵2 𝐴𝑛 𝑥 + 𝐵𝑛
= + + ⋯ +
(𝑎1 𝑥 2 + 𝑏1 𝑥 + 𝑐1 ) (𝑎2 𝑥 2 + 𝑏2 𝑥 + 𝑐2 ) (𝑎𝑛 𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑛 𝑥 + 𝑐𝑛 )

Example 3.1:
2𝑥 2 + 1 𝐴 𝐵𝑥 + 𝐶
= +
𝑥(𝑥 2 + 1) 𝑥 𝑥 2 + 1
Multiply both sides by the denominator
2𝑥 2 + 1 𝑥(𝑥 2 + 1) 𝐴𝑥(𝑥 2 + 1) 𝐵𝑥 + 𝐶𝑥(𝑥 2 + 1)
⟹ = +
𝑥(𝑥 2 + 1) 𝑥 𝑥2 + 1

Group 2 MATH 1115 Sem 1 2019/2020

⟹ 2𝑥 2 + 1 = 𝐴(𝑥 2 + 1) + (𝐵𝑥 + 𝐶)𝑥
⟹ 2𝑥 2 + 1 = 𝐴(𝑥 2 + 1) + 𝐵𝑥 2 + 𝐶𝑥
Comparing the terms of equal powers we get,
𝑖) 𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑥 2 : 2𝑥 2 = 𝐴𝑥 2 + 𝐵𝑥 2
⟹2=𝐴+𝐵
𝑖𝑖) 𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑥: note that there is no 𝑥 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 on the left
⟹0=𝐶
𝑖𝑖𝑖) 𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡:
⟹1=𝐴
So, 𝐴 = 1, 𝐵 = 1, 𝐶 = 0.
2𝑥 2 + 1 1 𝑥
= +
𝑥(𝑥 2 + 1) 𝑥 𝑥 2 + 1

Group 2 MATH 1115 Sem 1 2019/2020