MAT438 FOUNDATION OF APPLIED MATHEMATICS OCT2022-FEB2023

CHAPTER 3: METHOD OF INTEGRATIONS

Integration by Partial Fraction

Integration by partial fractions is one of the methods of integrating complex functions. Before
learning about the integration process by partial fractions, first, understand the meaning of
partial fractions and how to write the partial fractions.

 Partial Fractions (Proper Rational Function)

Let’s recall what is Rational Function?

A rational function R(x) is the function in the form
𝑃(𝑥)
𝑅(𝑥) = ; 𝑄(𝑥) ≠ 0
𝑄(𝑥)

where P(x) and Q(x) are polynomial functions and Q(x) is a non-zero polynomial.

Note: The partial fraction decomposition only works for the proper rational expression (the
degree of the numerator is less than the degree of the denominator).

The list of formulas used to decompose the given rational functions is given below. Using
these expressions, we can quickly write the integrand as a sum of proper rational functions:

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MAT438 FOUNDATION OF APPLIED MATHEMATICS OCT2022-FEB2023

Decomposition of Partial Fractions

Procedure for finding the partial fraction decomposition:

 Step 1: While decomposing the rational expression into the partial fraction, begin
with the proper rational expression.
 Step 2: Now, factor the denominator of the rational expression into the linear factor
or in the form of irreducible quadratic factors (Note: Don’t factor the denominators
into the complex numbers).
 Step 3: Write down the partial fraction for each factor obtained, with the variables in
the numerators, say A and B.
 Step 4: To find the variable values of A and B, multiply the whole equation by the
denominator.
 Step 5: Solve for the variables by substituting zero in the factor variable.
 Step 6: Finally, substitute the values of A and B in the partial fractions.

Example:
Decompose this rational function to become partial fraction:
1
(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 1)

Solution:

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Example:
Decompose the given expression into partial fractions:
𝑥2 + 1
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 1)
Solution:

Practice Problems:

1.

2.

3.

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How to do Integration by Partial Fractions?

Go through the steps given below to understand the integration process by partial fractions.
Step 1: Check whether the given integrand is a proper or improper rational function.
Step 2: Identify the type of denominator.
Step 3: Decompose the integrand using a suitable expression by comparing it with the five
different forms given above.
Step 4: Now, divide the integration into parts and integrate the individual functions.

Example:

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MAT438 FOUNDATION OF APPLIED MATHEMATICS OCT2022-FEB2023

Exercise

Answer

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MAT438 FOUNDATION OF APPLIED MATHEMATICS OCT2022-FEB2023

 Long Divisioon (Improper Rational Function)

Here, the improper rational function means the rational function with the degree of its
numerator is not less than the degree of the denominator. Different formulas are available to
decompose improper rational functions and get partial fractions.

In this case, we use long division of polynomials to write the ratio as a polynomial with a
remainder.

Example

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MAT438 FOUNDATION OF APPLIED MATHEMATICS OCT2022-FEB2023

Example:

Write the following as quotient plus remainder and fraction.

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MAT438 FOUNDATION OF APPLIED MATHEMATICS OCT2022-FEB2023

Example:
Find the integration of the following:

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