Integration by Partial Fractions
Learning Objectives
A student will be able to:
Compute by hand the integrals of a wide variety of functions by using
technique of Integration by Partial Fractions.
Combine the technique of partial fractions with substitution to solve various
integrals. This is the fourth technique that we will study.
This technique involves decomposing a rational function into a sum of two or more
simple rational functions. For example, the rational function
𝑥𝑥 + 4
𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑥 − 2
can be decomposed into
𝑥𝑥 + 4 2 3
= +
𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑥 − 2 𝑥𝑥 + 2 𝑥𝑥 − 1
The two partial sums on the right are called partial factions. Suppose that we wish to
integrate the rational function above. By decomposing it into two partial fractions, the
integral becomes manageable:
𝑥𝑥 + 4 2 3
� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = � � + � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑥 − 2 𝑥𝑥 + 2 𝑥𝑥 − 1
2 3
=� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + � 𝑑𝑑𝑥𝑥
𝑥𝑥 + 2 𝑥𝑥 − 1
1 1
= 2� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + 3 � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑥𝑥 + 2 𝑥𝑥 − 1
= 2 ln|𝑥𝑥 + 2| + 3|𝑥𝑥 − 1| + 𝐶𝐶
To use this method, we must be able to factor the denominator of the original function
and then decompose the rational function into two or more partial fractions. The
examples below illustrate the method.
Example 1: Find the partial fraction decomposition of
2𝑥𝑥 − 19
𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑥 − 6
1
We begin by factoring the denominator as
𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑥 − 6 = (𝑥𝑥 + 3)(𝑥𝑥 − 2)
Then write the partial fraction decomposition as
2𝑥𝑥 − 19 𝐴𝐴 𝐵𝐵
2
= +
𝑥𝑥 + 𝑥𝑥 − 6 𝑥𝑥 + 3 𝑥𝑥 − 2
Our goal at this point is to find the values of 𝐴𝐴 and 𝐵𝐵. To solve this equation, multiply
both sides of the equation by the factored denominator (𝑥𝑥 + 3)(𝑥𝑥 − 2). This process
will produce the basic equation.
2𝑥𝑥 − 19 = 𝐴𝐴(𝑥𝑥 − 2) + 𝐵𝐵(𝑥𝑥 + 3)
This equation is true for all values of 𝑥𝑥. The most convenient values are the ones that
make a factor equal to zero, namely, 𝑥𝑥 = 2 and 𝑥𝑥 = −3. Substituting
𝑥𝑥 = 2: 2(2) − 19 = 𝐴𝐴(2 − 2) + 𝐵𝐵(2 + 3)
−15 = 0 + 5𝐵𝐵 or − 15𝐵𝐵 = 5𝐵𝐵 ∴ 𝐵𝐵 = −3
Similarly, substituting for 𝑥𝑥 = −3 into the basic equation we get
2(−3) − 19 = 𝐴𝐴(−3 − 2) + 𝐵𝐵(−3 + 3)
−25 = −5𝐴𝐴 + 0 or − 5𝐴𝐴 = −25 ∴ 𝐴𝐴 = 5
We have solved the basic equation by finding the values of 𝐴𝐴 and 𝐵𝐵 therefore, the
partial fraction decomposition is
2𝑥𝑥 − 19 5 3
= −
𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑥 − 6 𝑥𝑥 + 3 𝑥𝑥 − 2
2
General Description of the Method
To be able to write a rational function as a sum of partial fractions, must apply two
conditions:
The degree of 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) must be less than the degree of 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) If so, the rational
function is called proper. If it is not, divide 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) by 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) (use long division) and
work with the remainder term.
The factors of 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) are known. If not, you need to find a way to find them. The
𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)
guide below shows how you can write 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥)
as a sum of partial fractions if the
factors of 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) are known.
A Guide to Finding Partial Fractions Decomposition of a Rational Function
𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)
1. To find the partial fraction decomposition of a proper rational function, 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥), factor
the denominator 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) and write an equation that has the form
𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)
= [Sum of Partial Fractions]
𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥)
2. For each distinct factor the right side must include a term of the form 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 + 𝑏𝑏, the
right side must include a term of the form
𝐴𝐴
𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 + 𝑏𝑏
3. For each repeated factor (𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 + 𝑏𝑏)𝑛𝑛 , the right side must include n terms of the form
𝐴𝐴1 𝐴𝐴2 𝐴𝐴3 𝐴𝐴𝑛𝑛
+ + +⋯+
(𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 + 𝑏𝑏) (𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 + 𝑏𝑏) 2 (𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 + 𝑏𝑏) 3 (𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 + 𝑏𝑏)𝑛𝑛
Example 2:
Use the method of partial fractions to evaluate
𝑥𝑥 + 1
� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
(𝑥𝑥 + 2)2
Solution: According to the guide above (item #3), we must assign the sum of 𝑛𝑛 =
2 partial sums:
𝑥𝑥 + 1 𝐴𝐴 𝐵𝐵
2
= +
(𝑥𝑥 + 2) (𝑥𝑥 + 2) (𝑥𝑥 + 2)2
Multiply both sides by (𝑥𝑥 + 2)2 we get
𝑥𝑥 + 1 = 𝐴𝐴(𝑥𝑥 + 2) + 𝐵𝐵 or 𝑥𝑥 + 1 = 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 + 2𝐴𝐴 + 𝐵𝐵
3
Equating the coefficients of like terms from both sides,
𝐴𝐴 = 1, 2𝐴𝐴 + 𝐵𝐵 = 1
Thus
𝐴𝐴 = 1, 𝐵𝐵 = −1
Therefore, the partial fraction decomposition is
𝑥𝑥 + 1 1 1
2
= −
(𝑥𝑥 + 2) (𝑥𝑥 + 2) (𝑥𝑥 + 2)2
The integral will become
𝑥𝑥 + 1 1 1
� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = � � − � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
(𝑥𝑥 + 2)2 (𝑥𝑥 + 2) (𝑥𝑥 + 2)2
1 1
= � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 − � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑥𝑥 + 2 (𝑥𝑥 + 2)2
𝑢𝑢 = 𝑥𝑥 + 2 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
1 1
=� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 − � 2 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑢𝑢 𝑢𝑢
= ln|𝑢𝑢| − � 𝑢𝑢−2 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑢𝑢−1
= ln|𝑢𝑢| − + 𝐶𝐶
−1
1
= ln|𝑢𝑢| + + 𝐶𝐶
𝑢𝑢
1
= ln|𝑥𝑥 + 2| − + 𝐶𝐶
𝑥𝑥 + 2
Example 3
Evaluate
3𝑥𝑥 2 + 3𝑥𝑥 + 1
� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑥𝑥 3 + 2𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑥
Solution:
We begin by factoring the denominator as 𝑥𝑥(𝑥𝑥 + 1)2 . Then the partial fraction
decomposition is
3𝑥𝑥 2 + 3𝑥𝑥 + 1 3𝑥𝑥 2 + 3𝑥𝑥 + 1
=
𝑥𝑥 3 + 2𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥(𝑥𝑥 + 1)2
3𝑥𝑥 2 + 3𝑥𝑥 + 1 𝐴𝐴 𝐵𝐵 𝐶𝐶
= + +
𝑥𝑥(𝑥𝑥 + 1) 2 𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥 + 1 (𝑥𝑥 + 1)2
4
Multiplying each side of the equation by 𝑥𝑥(𝑥𝑥 + 1)2 we get the basic equation
3𝑥𝑥 2 + 3𝑥𝑥 + 1 = 𝐴𝐴(𝑥𝑥 + 1)2 + 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵(𝑥𝑥 + 1) + 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶
This equation is true for all values of 𝑥𝑥. The most convenient values are the ones
that make a factor equal to zero, namely, 𝑥𝑥 = −1 and 𝑥𝑥 = 0
Substituting 𝑥𝑥 = −1,
3(−1)2 + 3(−1) + 1 = 𝐴𝐴(−1 + 1)2 + 𝐵𝐵(−1)(−1 + 1) + 𝐶𝐶(−1)
3 − 3 + 1 = 0 + 0 − 𝐶𝐶 or ∴ 𝐶𝐶 = −1
Substituting 𝑥𝑥 = 0,
3(0)2 + 3(0) + 1 = 𝐴𝐴(0 + 1)2 + 𝐵𝐵(0)(0 + 1) + 𝐶𝐶(0)
0 + 1 = 𝐴𝐴 + 0 + 0 ∴ 𝐴𝐴 = 1
To find 𝐵𝐵 we can simply substitute any value of 𝑥𝑥 along with the values of 𝐴𝐴 and
𝐶𝐶 obtained.
Choose 𝑥𝑥 = 1 :
3(1)2 + 3(1) + 1 = 𝐴𝐴(1 + 1)2 + 𝐵𝐵(1)(1 + 1) + 𝐶𝐶(1)
7 = 4𝐴𝐴 + 2𝐵𝐵 + 𝐶𝐶 or 7 = 4(1) + 2𝐵𝐵 + (−1) or 4 = 2𝐵𝐵 ∴ 𝐵𝐵 = 2
Now we have solved for A, B, and C. We use the partial fraction decomposition
to integrate.
3𝑥𝑥 2 + 3𝑥𝑥 + 1 1 2 1
� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = � � + − � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑥𝑥 3 + 2𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥 + 1 (𝑥𝑥 + 1)2
1 2 1
=� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 + � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 − � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥 + 1 (𝑥𝑥 + 1)2
1
= ln|𝑥𝑥| + 2 ln|𝑥𝑥 + 1| + + 𝐶𝐶
𝑥𝑥 + 1
Example 4: This problem is an example of an improper rational function. Evaluate
the definite integral
2
𝑥𝑥 3 − 4𝑥𝑥 2 − 3𝑥𝑥 + 3
� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
1 𝑥𝑥 2 − 3𝑥𝑥
Solution: This rational function is improper because its numerator has a degree
that is higher than its denominator. The first step is to divide the denominator into
the numerator by long division and obtain
5
𝑥𝑥 3 − 4𝑥𝑥 2 − 3𝑥𝑥 + 3 −6𝑥𝑥 + 3
= (𝑥𝑥 − 1) +
𝑥𝑥 2 − 3𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥 2 − 3𝑥𝑥
Now apply partial function decomposition only on the remainder,
−6𝑥𝑥 + 3 −6𝑥𝑥 + 3 𝐴𝐴 𝐵𝐵
= = +
𝑥𝑥 2 − 3𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥(𝑥𝑥 − 3) 𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥 − 3
As we did in the previous examples, multiply both sides by 𝑥𝑥(𝑥𝑥 − 3) and then set
𝑥𝑥 = 0 and 𝑥𝑥 = 3 to obtain the basic equation
−6𝑥𝑥 + 3 = 𝐴𝐴(𝑥𝑥 − 3) + 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵
For 𝑥𝑥 = 0:
−6(0) + 3 = 𝐴𝐴(0 − 3) + 𝐵𝐵(0) 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 3 = −3𝐴𝐴 ∴ 𝐴𝐴 = −1
For 𝑥𝑥 = 3:
−18 + 3 = 0 + 3𝐵𝐵 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 − 15 = 3𝐵𝐵 ∴ 𝐵𝐵 = −5
Thus, our integral becomes
2 2
𝑥𝑥 3 − 4𝑥𝑥 2 − 3𝑥𝑥 + 3 −6𝑥𝑥 + 3
� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = � �(𝑥𝑥 − 1) + � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
1 𝑥𝑥 2 − 3𝑥𝑥 1 𝑥𝑥 2 − 3𝑥𝑥
2
1 5
= � �(𝑥𝑥 − 1) − − � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
1 𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥 − 3
Integrating and substituting the limits,
2
𝑥𝑥 2
= � − 𝑥𝑥 − ln|𝑥𝑥| − 5 ln |𝑥𝑥 − 3|��
2 1
22 12
= � − 2 − ln|2| − 5 ln | − 1|� − � − 1 − ln|1| − 5 ln | − 2|�
2 2
1
= 4 ln 2 +
2
2
𝑥𝑥 3 − 4𝑥𝑥 2 − 3𝑥𝑥 + 3 1
∴ � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 4 ln 2 +
1 𝑥𝑥 2 − 3𝑥𝑥 2
6
Practice Questions
Evaluate the following integrals
1 𝑥𝑥
1. � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 2. � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
2
𝑥𝑥 − 1 𝑥𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑥 − 3
1 𝑥𝑥 3
3. � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 4. � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑥𝑥 + 𝑥𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑥
3
𝑥𝑥 2 + 4
1 5
𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥 − 1
5. � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 6. � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
0 1 + 𝑥𝑥 1 𝑥𝑥 2 (𝑥𝑥
+ 1)
7. Evaluate the integral by making the proper u-substitution to convert to a rational
function:
cos 𝜃𝜃
� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
sin2 𝜃𝜃 + 4 sin 𝜃𝜃 − 5
8. Evaluate the integral by making the proper u-substitution to convert to a rational
function:
3𝑒𝑒 𝜃𝜃
� 2𝜃𝜃 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑒𝑒 − 1
1
9. Find the area under the curve 𝑦𝑦 = over the interval [− ln 3 , ln 4]
2+𝑒𝑒 𝑥𝑥
(Hint: make a u-substitution to convert the integrand into a rational function.)
10. Show that
1 1 𝑎𝑎 + 𝑥𝑥
� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = ln � � + 𝐶𝐶
𝑎𝑎2 − 𝑥𝑥 2 2𝑎𝑎 𝑎𝑎 − 𝑥𝑥
