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Partial Fractions: Harvey Mudd College Math Tutorial

1. The document discusses partial fraction decomposition, which rewrites rational functions as the sum of simpler rational functions that are easier to integrate. 2. It provides an example of decomposing a rational function into partial fractions with repeated linear factors and an irreducible quadratic factor in the denominator. 3. The key steps are to set the partial fraction decomposition equal to the original function and then solve for the coefficients by equating like terms.

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45 views3 pages

Partial Fractions: Harvey Mudd College Math Tutorial

1. The document discusses partial fraction decomposition, which rewrites rational functions as the sum of simpler rational functions that are easier to integrate. 2. It provides an example of decomposing a rational function into partial fractions with repeated linear factors and an irreducible quadratic factor in the denominator. 3. The key steps are to set the partial fraction decomposition equal to the original function and then solve for the coefficients by equating like terms.

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Artist Recording
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© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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Harvey Mudd College Math Tutorial:

Partial Fractions
Consider the integral 3x3 2x2 19x 7 dx. x2 x 6 The integrand is an improper rational function. By long division of polynomials, we can rewrite the integrand as the sum of a polynomial and a proper rational function remainder: 3x3 2x2 19x 7 1 = 3x + 1 + 2 2x6 x x x6 So 1 3x3 2x2 19x 7 dx = 3x + 1 + 2 dx. 2x6 x x x6 This looks much easier to work with! We can integrate 3x + 1 immediately, but what about 1 ? 2x6 x Notice that x2 1 1 = x6 (x + 2)(x 3) 1 as the sum of two rational functions of the x2 x 6

which suggests that we try to write form B A and : x+2 x3 x2

A B 1 = + x6 x+2 x3 x2 1 . x6

This is called the Partial Fraction Decomposition for

Our goal now is to determine A and B. Multiplying both sides of the equation by (x+2)(x3) to clear the fractions, 1 = A(x 3) + B(x + 2). There are two methods for solving for A and B: Method 1 Collect like terms on the right: 1 = (A + B)x + (3A + 2B). Now equate coecients of corresponding powers of x: A + B = 0, 3A + 2B = 1. Solving this system, A = 1/5, B = 1/5. Method 2 The equation holds for all x. Let x = 2: 1 = A(2 3) + B(2 + 2) 1 = 5A A = 1/5. Now let x = 3: 1 = A(3 3) + B(3 + 2) 1 = 5B B = 1/5.

So

1 1 1 = 5 5 . x2 x 6 x+2 x3 Returning to the original integral,

3x3 2x2 19x 7 dx = x2 x 6

x+2 x3 3 2 1 x+2 = x + x + ln + C. 2 5 x3

3x + 1 +

1 5

1 5

dx

In the next example, we have repeated factors in the denominator, as well as an irreducible quadratic factor.

Example We will evaluate

x2 (x2

x1 dx. + x + 1)

The integrand is a proper rational function, which we would like to decompose into proper rational functions of the form A , x B , x2 and Cx + D x2 + x + 1

[Notice that we have two factors of x in the denominator of the integrand, leading to terms of B A the form and 2 in the decomposition. The factor x2 + x + 1 is irreducible and quadratic, x x Cx + D so any proper rational function with x2 + x + 1 as denominator has the form 2 x +x+1 where C or D may be 0.] Set x1 A B Cx + D = + 2+ 2 + x + 1) x x x +x+1

x2 (x2

Multiplying through by x2 (x2 + x + 1), x 1 = Ax(x2 + x + 1) + B(x2 + x + 1) + (Cx + D)x2 . Since x2 + x + 1 has no real roots, it is easiest to solve for A and B using Method 1: Collecting like terms on the right, x 1 = (A + C)x3 + (A + B + D)x2 + (A + B)x + B

Equating corresponding powers of x, A+C A+B+D A+B B So = 0 = 0 = 1 = 1


A=2 B = 1 C = 2 D = 1

1 2x + 1 2 2 2 x x x +x+1

x1 dx = x2 (x2 + x + 1)

2 1 2x + 1 2 2 dx x x x +x+1 1 = 2 ln |x| + ln |x2 + x + 1| + C x x2 1 = + ln 2 + C. x x +x+1

Key Concepts
Partial Fraction Decomposition of a Rational Function If the rational function is improper, use long division of polynomials to write it as the sum of a polynomial and a proper rational function remainder. Decompose the proper rational function as a sum of rational functions of the form A Bx + C and (x2 + x + irreducible) k 2 + x + )k (x ) (x where: Each factor (x )m in the denominator of the proper rational function suggests terms A1 A2 Am + + ... + 2 (x ) (x ) (x )m Each factor (x2 + x + )n suggests terms B1 x + C1 B2 x + C2 Bn x + Cn + 2 + ... + 2 2 + x + ) 2 (x (x + x + ) (x + x + )n Determine the (unique) values of all the constants involved. Use either Method 1 or Method 2, or a combination of both. The partial fraction decomposition is often used to rewrite a complicated rational function integrand as a sum of terms, each of which is straightforward to integrate. [Im ready to take the quiz.] [I need to review more.] [Take me back to the Tutorial Page]

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