Scribd
Upload
106 views5 pages

Partial Fractions

1. Partial fractions decomposition can be used to break down rational functions into the sum of simpler fractional components when the denominator factors into distinct linear factors or repeated linear factors or distinct irreducible quadratic factors. 2. For distinct linear factors, the partial fractions take the form of sums of terms with the linear factors in the denominator. For repeated linear factors, there are terms with distinct powers of the repeated factor. For distinct quadratic factors, there are terms with the quadratic factors multiplied by powers of x in the denominator. 3. Examples are worked through to demonstrate finding the coefficients of the partial fraction decomposition terms through algebraic manipulation and substitution.

Uploaded by

Deadly Chiller
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
106 views5 pages

Partial Fractions

1. Partial fractions decomposition can be used to break down rational functions into the sum of simpler fractional components when the denominator factors into distinct linear factors or repeated linear factors or distinct irreducible quadratic factors. 2. For distinct linear factors, the partial fractions take the form of sums of terms with the linear factors in the denominator. For repeated linear factors, there are terms with distinct powers of the repeated factor. For distinct quadratic factors, there are terms with the quadratic factors multiplied by powers of x in the denominator. 3. Examples are worked through to demonstrate finding the coefficients of the partial fraction decomposition terms through algebraic manipulation and substitution.

Uploaded by

Deadly Chiller
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
You are on page 1/ 5

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

You might also like