Integration by Partial Fractions

Integration by partial fractions is one of the three methods of integration. In this method, we
decompose the proper rational fraction into a sum of simpler rational fractions. It is always possible to
decompose the rational fraction into simpler rational fractions and this is done by a process called
partial fraction decomposition

If an integrand is in the form of an algebraic fraction and the integral cannot be evaluated by simple
methods, the fraction needs to be expressed in partial fractions before integration takes place

Partial Fraction Decomposition is the process taking a rational expression and decomposing it into
simpler rational expressions that we can add or subtract to get the original rational expression.

Partial Fraction Decomposition

Step 1: Factor the bottom or the denominator

Step 2: Write one partial fraction for each of those factors

Step 3: Multiply through by the bottom so we no longer have fractions

Step 4: Now find the constants A1 and A2