Partial Fractions

What are partial fractions?

Expressing a fraction as the sum of
fractions

3 1 1
 
4 2 4
 7 1 1
 
12 2 12
13 1 1
 1 
8 2 8

81 1 1 1 1
   
100 2 4 20 100
 5 x  10
?
x  1x  4

5 x  10 3 2
 
x  1x  4 x  1 x  4
Steps for Decomposing Fractions
into Partial Fractions
Factorise denominator fully
Set up answer in terms of A, B, etc
Multiply out to establish equations
Solve simultaneously
Write out answer
 5 x  10
x  3x  4
2

Factorise 5 x  10

denominator fully
x  1x  4
A B
Set up answer in  
terms of A, B, etc x  1 x  4
Multiply out to Ax  4 Bx  1
 
establish equations
x  1 x  4

 Ax  4  Bx  1  5 x  10
Ax  4 A  Bx  B  5 x  10
Solve simultaneously
 A  B  5 and  4 A  B  10
Solving 5 A  15
A3
and B2

Write out answer 

5 x  10 3 2
 
x  3x  4 x  1 x  4
2
 Oliver Heaviside
(18 May 1850 – 3 February 1925)

Self-taught English
electrical engineer,
mathematician, and
physicist
Adapted complex numbers
to the study of electrical
circuits
Invented mathematical
techniques to the solution
of differential equations
Reformulated Maxwell's field
equations in terms of electric
and magnetic forces and
energy flux
Independently co-formulated
vector analysis.
Was at odds with the
scientific establishment for
most of his life.
Awarded the Faraday Medal
– credited with changing the
face of mathematics and
science for years to come

(From Wikipedia, the free

encyclopedia.)
 Cover Up
An easy way to do simple PF’s
We cover up and substitute to get
the values for A and B
 5 x  10
x  3x  4
2

Factorise
denominator fully 5 x  10

x  1x  4

A B
Set up answer in  
terms of A, B, etc x  1 x  4
Take each factor in
turn 5 x  10
Which value of x
gives you zero? x  3x  4
2

x = -1 and x = 4 5 x  10

Cover up the factor
that gives you the x  1x  4 
value
Substitute A=3
B=2
 5x  10
10
x  3x  44
2

A
3 B2
 
x  1 xx 44
 Lets do it again…
Take each factor in
turn 2x  3
Which value of x
gives you zero? x  3x  2
2

x = -1 and x = -2 2x  3

Cover up the factor
that gives you the x  1x  2 
value
Substitute A=1
B=1
 22 xx  33
xx  3x 22
22

A
1 B1
 
xx  11 xx22 
 2 x
xx  x  12
22

A5 B2
 
7x x33  x7x4 4 
But how about a squared factor?
Need to do it the 5 x  10
‘old’ way x  6x  9
2

Factorise 5 x  10

denominator fully  x  3 2

With factor
squared – one Ax  3 B
 
power 1, one 2 x  3 x  32

Set up answer in
terms of A, B, etc
  A x  3  B  5 x  10
Multiply out to
establish Ax  3A  B  5x 10
equations

A5 and  3 A  B  10

Equate each ‘bit’
then  3(5)  B  10
Solve for A and B B5

5 x  10
Write out answer
x2  6x  9
5 5
 
x  3 x  32
Now you are on your own…