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Partial Fractions Summary
Partial Fractions Summary
P( x)
A rational function , with degree of P < degree of Q,
Q( x)
can be written as partial fractions as follows:
2
Example Write
x4 in terms of partial fractions.
x 5x 6
2
3
x 4 A( x 3) B( x 2) x (*)
From (*), we can find A and B by one of two methods.
Method 1
Equate coefficients of xn on the two sides of the equation.
Expand out: x + 4 = (A+B) x + (–3A –2B)
Coefficients of x: 1 = A+B
Constants: 4 = –3A –2B
Solving these simultaneous equations gives A = -6, B = 7.
Method 2 (often quicker!)
Substitute particular values of x into (*)
E.g., x = 3 gives 7 = 0 + B
x = 2 gives 6 = –A + 0
Using these values of A, B we have:
x4 6 7
x 5x 6 x 2 x 3
2
4