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Partial Fraction

This document provides a summary of a method for finding partial fraction decompositions when the denominator polynomial splits into linear factors. It explains that when the factors are distinct, the coefficient of each term can be found by multiplying both sides of the equation by x - ai and plugging in x = ai. When there are repeated factors, the highest power term's coefficient can be found this way, and derivatives must be taken to isolate the coefficients of lower power terms. The method avoids writing systems of equations and makes partial fraction decomposition relatively straightforward. Students unsure of how the method works are encouraged to contact the author.

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Faizzwan Fazil
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93 views2 pages

Partial Fraction

This document provides a summary of a method for finding partial fraction decompositions when the denominator polynomial splits into linear factors. It explains that when the factors are distinct, the coefficient of each term can be found by multiplying both sides of the equation by x - ai and plugging in x = ai. When there are repeated factors, the highest power term's coefficient can be found this way, and derivatives must be taken to isolate the coefficients of lower power terms. The method avoids writing systems of equations and makes partial fraction decomposition relatively straightforward. Students unsure of how the method works are encouraged to contact the author.

Uploaded by

Faizzwan Fazil
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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FINDING PARTIAL FRACTION DECOMPOSITIONS

Your textbook fails to mention a fairly basic trick for making most partial fraction decomposition problems relatively painless. I went over this in class, and I
review it here just in case you missed that day or lost your notes.
First suppose we have a proper fraction P (x)/Q(x), such that the polynomial
Q(x) splits into linear, distinct factors. We demonstrate an easy method for finding
the partial fraction decomposition by example:
Example: Take the fraction
position looks like

x2 +2
(x1)(x2)(x3)(x4) .

The partial fraction decom-

A
B
C
D
x2 + 2
=
+
+
+
.
(x 1)(x 2)(x 3)(x 4)
x1 x2 x3 x4
To find A, for example, multiply both sides by x 1:
x2 + 2
x1
x1
x1
= A+B
+C
+D
.
(x 2)(x 3)(x 4)
x2
x3
x4
Now notice what happens if we plug in x = 1: all the terms on the left except A
are killed off; so we conclude that


x2 + 2
1

A=
= .

(x 2)(x 3)(x 4) x=1
2
Similarly,


x2 + 2

B=
= 3.
(x 1)(x 3)(x 4) x=2
C and D can similarly found by a 1-line computation.
What if we had repeated factors? We can still avoid writing down systems of
equations, but we have to take derivatives to do it. Heres an example:
Example: Lets take

x
.
(x1)2 (x2)

We have the partial fraction decomposition

x
A
B
C
=
+
+
.
2
(x 1) (x 2)
x 2 x 1 (x 1)2
We can get A and C using the trick above, multiplying the expression above by
x 2 and (x 1)2 , respectively, to isolate A and C. Now look at the expression
above when weve multiplied by (x 1)2 :
x
(x 1)2
=A
+ B(x 1) + C.
x2
x2
Now take derivatives of both sides. We get
x2x
2(x 1)(x 2) (x 1)2
=
A
+ B.
(x 2)2
(x 2)2
1

FINDING PARTIAL FRACTION DECOMPOSITIONS

Again if we plug in x = 1, the term multiplying A disappears, so weve successfully


isolated B.
To recap: we can use a trick to find the partial fraction decomposition of
P (x)/Q(x), provided Q(x) factors into linear factors. If the factors of Q(x) are
A
distinct, we get the coefficient of xa
by multiplying both sides by x ai , and
i
then plugging in x = ai . If we have some repeated factors, we get the coefficient
A
of the highest power (x ai )n dividing Q(x) by the method above, and
(xai )n
then repeatedly take derivatives to get the rest.
This was a very quick review of what we did. If you are unsure of how the
method works, send me an e-mail or stop by during office hours.

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