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Partial Fractions Partial Fractions
Partial Fractions Partial Fractions
Partial Fractions
A way of "breaking apart" fractions with polynomials in them.
Like this:
2 3 2(x+1) + 3(x−2)
+ =
x−2 x+1 (x−2)(x + 1)
2x+2 + 3x−6
=
x2+x−2x−2
5x−4
=
x2−x−2
2
x-2
+ 3
x+1 ? 5x-4
x2 -x-2
Partial Fractions
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This can help solve the more complicated fraction. For example it is very useful in Integral
Calculus .
The method is called "Partial Fraction Decomposition", and goes like this:
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Proper: the degree of the top is less than the degree of the bottom.
degree of top is 1
Proper:
degree of bottom is 3
Improper: the degree of the top is greater than, or equal to, the degree of the
bottom.
degree of top is 2
Improper:
degree of bottom is 1
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But don't factor them into complex numbers ... you may need to stop some factors at
quadratic (called irreducible quadratics because any further factoring leads to complex
numbers):
Example: (x2−4)(x2+4)
(x−2)(x+2)(x2+4)
linear factors
irreducible quadratic factors
When you have a quadratic factor you need to include this partial fraction:
B1x + C1
(Your Quadratic)
Like this:
Example:
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1
(x−2)3
A1 A2 A3
+ +
x−2 (x−2)2 (x−2)3
Example:
1
(x2+2x+3)2
B1x + C1 B2x + C2
+
x2+2x+3 (x2+2x+3)2
Gather all powers of x together and then solve it as a system of linear equations .
Oh my gosh! That is a lot to handle! So, on with an example to help you understand:
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x2+15
(x+3)2 (x2+3)
Because (x+3)2 has an exponent of 2, it needs two terms (A1 and A2).
x2+15 A1 A2 Bx + C
= + +
(x+3)2(x2+3) x+3 (x+3)2 x2+3
(−3)2+15 = 0 + ((−3)2+3)A2 + 0
24 = 12A2
so A2=2
x2+15 = x3(A1+B)+x2(3A1+6B+C+2)+x(3A1+9B+6C)+(9A1+6+9C)
x3: 0 = A1+B
x2: 1 = 3A1+6B+C+2
x: 0 = 3A1+9B+6C
Constants: 15 = 9A1+6+9C
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0 = A1 + B
−1 = 3A1 + 6B + C
0 = 3A1 + 9B + 6C
1 = A1 + C
Now solve.
You can choose your own way to solve this ... I decided to subtract the 4th equation from the
2nd to begin with:
0 = A1 + B
−2 = 2A1 + 6B
0 = 3A1 + 9B + 6C
1 = A1 + C
0 = A1 + B
−2 = 4B
0 = 3A1 + 9B + 6C
1 = A1 + C
Final Result:
x2+15 1 2 −x + 1
= + +
(x+3)2(x2+3) 2(x+3) (x+3)2 2(x2+3)
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Summary
Start with a Proper Rational Expressions (if not, do division first)
Write out a partial fraction for each factor (and every exponent of each)
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