1.

4 PARTIAL FRACTION

1.4: INTEGRATING RATIONAL FUNCTION BY PARTIAL FRACTIONS

Any integration involving rational function (a ratio of polynomial) by expressing it as a sum of simpler
fractions, called partial fraction, that already know to integrate.

1.4.1: Linear Factors

Case where the denominator is composed of linear factors.

Linear Factor Rule:

P x 
For each factor of the form ax  b m , the partial fraction decomposition of contains the
Q x 
following sum of m partial fractions:

P x  P x  A1 A2 A3 Am
       '
Qx  ax  b m ax  b ax  b 2 ax  b 3 ax  bm
where 𝐴1 , 𝐴2 , ..., 𝐴𝑚 are constants to be determined.

x
dx
Example 1: Evaluate 2
 x 2
Solution:

P x  1 1 Partial fraction
 2 
Qx  x  x  2 x  2x  1
; Qx  can be factorized (linear factor)

Form into partial fraction:

constant

P x  1 A B
  
Qx  x  2x  1 x  2 x  1

Linear equation

Find values of A and B:

1 A B
 
x  2x  1 x  2 x  1 Substitute x = 1 and -2
1  Ax  1  Bx  2
Let x  1 Let x  2
1  A1  1  B1  2 1  A 2  1  B 2  2
 3B  3 A
1 1
B A
3 3
 1.4 PARTIAL FRACTION

Hence, partial fraction is

1 1 1
 
x  2x  1 3 x  2 3 x  1

Therefore:
 
x    3 x  2  3 x  1  dx   3 ln x  2  3 ln x  1 C
dx 1 1 1 1

2
x 2

2x  4
Example 2: Evaluate
x 3
 2x 2
dx

Solution:

P x  2x  4 2x  4 Partial fraction
 
Qx  x 3  2x 2 x 2 x  2
; Qx  can be factorized (linear factor)

Form into partial fraction:

P x  2x  4 A B C
 2   2 
Q x  x x  2  x x x 2

Repeated linear factor

Substitute x = 0, 2 and 1.
Find values of A, B and C:
Alternatively; comparing the coefficients.
2x  4 A B C
  2 
x x  2 
2 x x x 2
2 x  4  Ax x  2  Bx  2  Cx 2
Let x  0 Let x  2 Let x  1
4  2B 8  4C 6  A  B  C
B  2 C2   A   2  2
6  4  A
A  2
Hence, partial fraction is
2x  4 2 2 2
   2 
x x  2
2 x x x 2

Therefore
2x  4  2 
x     x dx    x  x  2 dx
2 2 2 2 2
dx     dx  dx 
3
 2x 2 x x2 x  2 2

2
 2 ln x   2 ln x  2  C
x
 1.4 PARTIAL FRACTION

2x 2  5 x  7
Example 3: Evaluate
 x  2 x  1 2
dx

P x  2x 2  5 x  7 Partial fraction
 ; Qx  can be factorized
Qx  x  2 x  12 (linear factor)

Form into partial fraction:

P x  2x 2  5 x  7 A B C
   
Qx  x  2 x  1 2 x  2 x  1 x  12

Repeated linear factor

Substitute x = 1, 2 and 0.
Find values of A, B and C:
Alternatively; comparing the coefficients.
2x  5 x  7
2
A B C
  
x  2 x  1
2 x  2 x  1 x  12
2x 2  5 x  7  Ax  1  Bx  2x  1  C x  2
2

Let x  1 Let x  2 Let x  0

4  C 5A 7   A  2B  2C
C  4  5  2B  2 4 
7  3  2B
B  2
Hence, partial fraction is

2x 2  5 x  7 5 2 4
  
x  2 x  1
2 x  2 x  1 x  12

Therefore

2x 2  5 x  7  5 4 
 x  2 x  1   x  2 dx   x  1 dx   x  1
 2 5 2 4
dx    dx  dx
2  x  2 x  1 x  12  2
 
4
 5 ln x  2  2 ln x  1  C
x 1
 1.4 PARTIAL FRACTION

1.4.2: Quadratic Factors

Quadratic factor rule:

P x 
For each factor of the form ax 2  bx  c  
m
, the partial fraction decomposition of
Q x 
contains

the following sum of m partial fractions:

P x  P x  A1x  B1 A2 x  B2 A3 x  B3 Am x  Bm
     '

Qx  ax 2  ax  b  m
ax 2  ax  b ax 2
 ax  b  ax
2 2
 ax  b 
3
ax 2
 ax  b 
m

where𝐴1 , 𝐴2 , … 𝐴𝑚 , 𝐵1 , 𝐵2 , … 𝐵𝑚 are constants to be determined.

x2  x  4
Example 4: Evaluate
 3x 3
 x 2  3x  1
dx

Solution:

P x  x2  x  4 x2  x  4 Qx  can be Partial fraction

 
Qx  3 x 3  x 2  3 x  1 x 2  1 3 x  1
;
  factorized (linear factor &
quadratic
Form into partial fraction: factor)
P x  x2  x  4 Ax  B C
 2  2 
 
Qx  x  1 3 x  1 x  1 3 x  1  

quadratic factor

Find values of A, B and C: Substitute x = 1, 2 and 0.

x2  x  4 Ax  B C
  Alternatively; comparing the coefficients.
x 2

 1 3 x  1 x 2
1  3x  1
x 2  x  4  Ax  B 3 x  1  C x 2  1  
1 Let x  0 Let x  1
Let x 
3  4  B  C 
 2  A1  B 31  1  C 12  1 
32 10 16 4  2 A  2B  2C
  C B  4 
9 9 5 5
4  16 
16  2 A  2   2  
C  
5  5 
5
14
A
5
Hence, partial fraction is

x2  x  4 14 x  4 16
 
x 2

 1 3 x  1 
5 x 1 2
 5 3 x  1
 1.4 PARTIAL FRACTION

Therefore

x2  x  4  14 x  4  14 x  4
 3x     
 16  dx  16
dx   dx 
3
 x 2  3x  1  
 5 x 2  1 5 3 x  1 
 5 x 1
2
 5 3 x  1
dx

     
14 x 4 16
 dx  dx 
5 x 1
2
 5 x 1
2 5 3 x  1
dx

7 4 16
 ln x 2  1  tan 1 x  ln 3 x  1  C
5 5 15

Let u  x 2  1 ; du  2x dx

  
14 x 7du 7 7
dx   ln u  C  ln x 2  1  C
5 x 1
2
 5u 5 5
 1.4 PARTIAL FRACTION

1.4.3: Improper Rational Fractions

P x 
Involving rational functions where
Q x 
the degree of 𝑷(𝒙) > degree of 𝑸(𝒙).
Method of solving:
P x  P x 
 h x  
r
o Write as: where h x  is the quotient and r is the
Q x  Q x  Q x 
remainder.
o By dividing P x  by Q x  using long division method.

3x 4  3x 3  5x 2  x  1
Example 5: Evaluate
 x2  x  2
dx .

Solution: