Mathematics 22 Second Semester A.Y.

2020-2021
Integration by Partial Fractions 11 March 2020

I. Integration by Partial Fractions.

ˆ Goal: To integrate rational functions with complex but factorable denominators whose degree
is higher than the numerator.
ˆ How to do?
1. Factor the denominator completely.
2. Identify the type of factors involved.
3. Decompose the integrand into simpler fractions whose terms correspond to the factors (see table).

For each factor of... Add a term of the form...

A
Linear (ax + b) ax+b
A1 A2 An
Repeated linear (ax + b)n ax+b + (ax+b)2
+ ... + (ax+b)n
Ax+B
Irreducible (or non-factorable) quadratic (ax2 + bx + c) ax2 +bx+c
A1 x+B1 A2 x+B2 An x+Bn
Repeated quadratic factor (ax2 + bx + c)n (ax2 +bx+c)
+ (ax2 +bx+c)2
+ ... + (ax2 +bx+c)n

4. Equate the original integrand to the decomposed version and multiply both sides by the denominator.
5. Solve the numerators. Identify the coefficient of each power on both sides and equate the. Use
techniques on solving systems of equations.
6. Write out the final decomposed form and integrate.
ˆ If degree of numerator is higher: Divide first to arrive at a quotient (polynomial, easy to
integrate) and possibly a remainder (rational function whose denominator has higher degree, can use
partial fractions now).

II. Exercises. Perform the following integration.

Z
17 x3 − 4x − 5 x3 + 1
Z Z
1. 2
dx 6. dx 11. dx
6x − 13x − 5 (x 2 + 2x + 5)2 (x2 + 4)2
Z
4 Z
sec2 x
2. 2
dx 7. dx Z 2
3
(x − 1)(x + 1) tan2 x + 3 tan x + 2 12. dx
Z 5
x − 8x2 + 3
Z
4x2 − 4x + 3 0 4x2 + 5x + 1
3. dx 8. dx
x3 − 8 (2x − 1)(4x2 + 1) 5
x−1
Z
x3 − x2 − 1 13. dx
Z
x
Z
4. 2 2
dx 9. dx 1 x2 (x
+ 1)
(x − 1)(x + 1) (x − 1)2 (x2 + 1)
2
3x3 + x2 − 1 x2 + 4x + 4
Z Z Z
x+1
5. dx 10. dx 14. dx
x2 (x2 + x + 1) x(x2 + 4)2 1 x(x2 + 1)

III. Solutions to some exercises.

Z Z Z
17 17 17
1. 2
dx. Step 1. 2
dx = dx
6x − 13x − 5 6x − 13x − 5 (3x + 1)(2x − 5)
17 A B
Step 2. Factors: Two linear Step 3. = +
(3x + 1)(2x − 5) 3x + 1 2x − 5
   
17 A B
Step 4. (3x + 1)(2x − 5) = (3x + 1)(2x − 5) +
(3x + 1)(2x − 5) 3x + 1 2x − 5

⇒ 17 = A(2x − 5) + B(3x + 1) ⇒ 17 = 2Ax − 5A + 3BX + B = (2A + 3B)x + (−5A + B)

( (
coefficient of x : 0 = 2A + 3B (1) −3(2) 0 = 2A + 3B
Step 5. ⇒ ⇒ 51 = 17A ⇒ A = 3
constant term : 17 = −5A + B (2) −51 = 15A − 3B
Using (1): 0 = 2A + 3B = 2(3) + 3B = 6 + 3B ⇒ 3B = −6 ⇒ B = −2

1
 Z Z
17 3 2
Step 6. dx = − dx = ln |3x + 1| − ln |2x − 5| + C
(3x + 1)(2x − 5) 3x + 1 2x − 5
Note: Make sure each numerator coefficient is represented by different variables.
Z Z Z
4 4 4
2. 2
dx = dx = dx (linear, repeated linear)
(x − 1)(x + 1) (x − 1)(x + 1)(x + 1) (x − 1)(x + 1)2
Z
A B C
= + + dx
x − 1 x + 1 (x + 1)2
4 A B C
2
= + + ⇒ 4 = A(x + 1)2 + B(x − 1)(x + 1) + C(x − 1)
(x − 1)(x + 1) x − 1 x + 1 (x + 1)2

⇒ 4 = Ax2 + 2Ax + A + Bx2 − B + Cx − C


2
 coefficient of x : 0 = A + B
 (1)
(2)+(3) (4)+(1)
coefficient of x : 0 = 2A + C (2) ⇒ 4 = 3A − B (4) ⇒ 4 = 4A ⇒ A = 1

constant : 4 = A − B − C (3)

Z
4
A = 1 to (1): 0 = 1+B ⇒ B = −1 , A = 1 to (2): 0 = 2+C ⇒ C = −2 dx =
(x − 1)(x + 1)2
Z
1 1 2 2
− − dx = ln |x − 1| − ln |x + 1| + +C
x − 1 x + 1 (x + 1)2 x+1
Notes:
1. There are multiple ways to solve a system. As long as each step made is valid then you must arrive
at the correct values.
2. If you want to check (though nakakatamad), you can add the decomposed version you got (using
LCD etc.) and you must get the original integrand.
Z 5
x − 8x2 + 3
3. dx Degree of numerator is higher, divide first.
x3 − 8
Z
x2 3
= x2 + 3 dx
x3 − 8


x5 − 8x2 + 3 x −8
− x5 + 8x2
3
Z Z Z
3 3 A Bx + C
We use partial fractions to solve 3
dx = dx = + 2
x −8 (x − 2)(x2 + 2x + 4) x − 2 x + 2x + 4

3 = A(x2 + 2x + 4) + (Bx + C)(x − 2) ⇒ 3 = Ax2 + 2Ax + 4A + Bx2 − 2Bx + Cx − 2C

 (
 0 = A + B (1) 3 = 4A − 2C
 (3) + 2(4) :
0 = 2A − 2B + C (2) 0 = 8A + 2C

3 = 4A − 2C (3)

1
⇒ 3 = 12A ⇒ A =
( 4
0 = 2A + 2B
2(1) + (2): 1
0 = 2A − 2B + C Plug-in A to (1): B = −
4
⇒ 0 = 4A + C (4) Plug-in A to (3): 3 = 1 − 2C ⇒ C = −1

− 14 x − 1
Z Z Z
3 1 1 1 x+4
2
dx = + 2 dx = ln |x − 2| − 2
dx
(x − 2)(x + 2x + 4) 4(x − 2) x + 2x + 4 4 4 x + 2x + 4
Z Z Z Z Z
x+4 x+1 3 1 1 3
ˆ dx = dx + dx = du + dx
x2 + 2x + 4 x2 + 2x +4  (x 2 + 2x + 1) + 3 2 u (x + 1) 2+3
1 3 x+1
= ln |x2 + 2x + 4| + √ tan−1 +C
2 3 3
  
1 1 1 2 3 −1 x + 1
Final answer: ln |x − 2| − ln |x + 2x + 4| + √ tan +C
4 4 2 3 3

2
 Z Z
x A Bx + C Dx + E
4. 2 2
dx = + 2 + 2
(x − 1)(x + 1) x−1 x +1 (x + 1)2
x = A(x2 + 1)2 + (Bx + C)(x − 1)(x2 + 1) + (Dx + E)(x − 1)
⇒ x = A(x4 + 2x2 + 1) + (Bx + C)(x3 − x2 + x − 1) + Dx2 − Dx + Ex − E
⇒ x = Ax4 + 2Ax2 + A + Bx4 − Bx3 + Bx2 − Bx + Cx3 − Cx2 + Cx − C + Dx2 − Dx + Ex − E

0=A+B (1) 1
Plug-in A to (1): B = −



4
 0 = −B + C (2)



0 = 2A + B − C + D (3) 1
 Plug-in A to (8): C = −
1 = −B + C − D + E (4) 4





0=A−C −E (5) 1 1 1

Plug-in A, B, C to (3): 0 = − + + D ⇒
(3)+ (4): 1 = 2A + E (6) 2 4 4
(5)+(6): 1 = 3A − C (7) 1
D=−
(1) + (2): 0 = A + C (8) 2
1 1 1 1
(7) + (8): 1 = 4A ⇒ A = Plug-in A, C to (5): 0 = + − E ⇒ E =
4 4 4 2

− 14 x − 14 − 12 x + 12
Z Z
x 1
dx = + + dx
(x − 1)(x2 + 1)2 4(x − 1) (x2 + 1) (x2 + 1)2
Z
1 1
ˆ dx = ln |x − 1| + C1
4(x − 1) 4
− 14 x − 41
Z Z Z  
1 x+1 1 x 1 1 1 −1
ˆ dx = − dx = − + dx = − 2
ln |x + 1| + tan (x) +
(x2 + 1) 4 x2 + 1 4 x2 + 1 x2 + 1 4 2
C2
− 21 x + 12 x−1 √
Z Z
1
ˆ 2 2
dx = − 2 2
dx (use trig-sub, x = tan θ, dx = sec2 dθ, x2 + 1 = sec θ)
(x Z+ 1) 2 (x + 1) Z
tan θ − 1
Z
1 2 1 tan θ 1 1 sin θ
=− 4
sec θ dθ = − 2
− 2
dθ = − − cos2 θ dθ
2  sec θ 2  sec θ sec θ 2 cos3 θ
1 cos−4 θ 1 1 1 1 1
=− − − θ − sin 2θ + C3 = − cos−4 θ + θ − sin θ cos θ + C3
2 −4 2 4 8 4 4
 −4  
1 1 1 −1 1 x
=− √ + tan x − + C3
√ 8 x2 + 1 4 4 x2 + 1
1 + x2 x
θ

Final answer:
   −4  
1 1 1 2 −1 1 1 1 −1 1 x
ln |x − 1| + − ln |x + 1| + tan (x) − √ + tan x − +C
4 4 2 8 x2 + 1 4 4 x2 + 1
3x3 + x2 − 1
Z Z
A B Cx + D
5. 2 2
dx = + 2+ 2 dx
x (x + x + 1) x x x +x+1

3x3 + x2 − 1 = Ax(x2 + x + 1) + B(x2 + x + 1) + (Cx + D)x2




 3=A+C (1) B to (3): A = 1

1 = A+B +D (2)
A to (1): C = 2
0 = A+B
 (3)


 −1 = B (4) A and B to (2): D = 1

3x3 + x2 − 1
Z Z
1 1 2x + 1 1
dx = − + dx = ln |x| + + ln |x2 + x + 1| + C
x2 (x2 + x + 1) x x2 x2 + x + 1 x