Partial Fractions

In this chapter, you should recall an appropriate form for expressing

rational functions in partial fractions, and carry out the decomposition,
in cases where the denominator is no more complicated than
(ax + b)(cx + d)(ex + f), (ax + b)(cx + d) 2 , (ax + b)(x 2 + c 2 ) and where the
degree of the numerator does not exceed that of the denominator.

1. Distinct Linear Factors

To every linear factor (ax + b) in the denominator of a proper fraction,

A
there corresponds a partial fraction of the form where A is a
ax + b
constant (in other words do not have any square or cube terms etc).

5(x + 2)
Express as partial fractions.
(x + 1)(x + 6)

We can write this as

5(x + 2) A B
≡ + . So now all we have to do is finding A and B.
(x + 1)(x + 6) x + 1 x + 6

5( x + 2) A( x + 6) + B ( x + 1)
≡ . By comparison or elimination,
( x + 1)( x + 6) ( x + 1)( x + 6)

A = 1, B = 4.

5( x + 2) 1 4
Therefore = +
( x + 1)( x + 6) x + 1 x + 6

2x + 3 1 5 7
1. − +
( x + 1)( x − 1)( x − 2) 6( x + 1 ) 2( x − 1 ) 3(x − 2)

x 2 + 3x + 5 5 3
2. 2
1− +
x + 5x + 6 x+3 x+2

2. Repeated Linear Factors

To every linear factor (ax + b) repeated n times in the denominator, there

corresponds the sum of n partial fractions.

A1 A2 An
+ 2 + …… +
ax + b (ax + b) (ax + b) n

x 2 + 6x + 9
Resolve f(x) = into partial fractions.
( x − 3) 2 ( x + 5)

x 2 + 6x + 9 A B C
≡ + + .
( x − 3) ( x + 5) ( x − 3) ( x − 3) x+5
2 2

15 9 1
By comparison or elimination, A = , B = , C =
16 2 16
 4x − 9 4 3
1. +
( x − 3) 2 x −3 2
(x − 3)
4x − 1 1 1 7 9
2. 2 2 − + + +
x ( x − 4) x 2 16( x − 2) 16( x + 2)
4x

3. Distinct Quadratic Factors

To every quadratic factor ax 2 + bx + c in the denominator, there

Ax + B
corresponds a partial fraction of the form
ax 2 + bx + c

2x 2 + x − 3
Express in partial fractions.
( x + 1)(2 x 2 + 3 x − 4)

2x 2 + x − 3 A Bx + C
≡ +
( x + 1)(2 x + 3 x − 4) x + 1 (2 x + 3 x − 4)
2 2

2 6 7
By comparison or elimination, A = , B = ;C = −
5 5 5

3x − 4 7 1 x−8
1. − −
( x − 1)( x 2 − 2 x + 2)
2
10 ( x + 1) 2(x − 1) 2
5 ( x − 2x + 2)

1− x 1 1 x −1
2. − + +
x ( x 2 + 4)
2
4x 2 2
4x 4 (x + 4 )