Partial Fraction Decomposition

So let me show you how to do it.

Step 1: Factor the bottom.

Step 2: Write one partial

fraction for each of those
factors

Step 3: Multiply through by

the bottom so we no longer
have fractions
Step 4: Now find the constants!
Substituting the roots ("zeros") of the bottom can help:

And we have our answer:

A Big Example Bringing It All Together

Here is a nice example for you!

x2+15
(x+3)2 (x2+3)

Because (x+3) has an exponent of 2, it needs two

terms (A1 and A2).

And (x +3) is a quadratic, so it will need Bx + C:

x2+15
2

(x+3) (x +3)

A1
x+3

A2
(x+3)

Bx + C
x2+3

Now multiply through by (x+3)2(x2+3):

x2+15 = (x+3)(x2+3)A1 + (x2+3)A2 + (x+3)2(Bx + C)

There is a zero at x = -3 (because x+3=0), so let us try that:

(-3)2+15 = 0 + ((-3)2+3)A2 + 0
And simplify it to:

24 = 12A2
so
Let us replace

A2

with

A2=2

2:

x2+15 = (x+3)(x2+3)A1 + 2x2+6 + (x+3)2(Bx + C)

Now expand the whole thing:

x2+15 = (x3+3x+3x2+9)A1 + 2x2+6 + (x3+6x2+9x)B +

(x2+6x+9)C
Gather powers of x together:

x2+15 =
x3(A1+B)+x2(3A1+6B+C+2)+x(3A1+9B+6C)+(9A1+6+9C)
Separate the powers and write as a
Systems of Linear Equations :

x3:

0 = A1+B

x2:

1 = 3A1+6B+C+2

x:

0 = 3A1+9B+6C

Constants: 15 = 9A1+6+9C
Simplify, and arrange neatly:

0 =

A1 +

-1 = 3A1 + 6B +

0 = 3A1 + 9B + 6C
1 =

A1

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 +

-2 = 2A1 + 6B
0 = 3A1 + 9B + 6C
1 =

A1

Then subtract 2 times the 1st equation from the 2nd:

0 =

A1 +

-2 =

B
4B

0 = 3A1 + 9B + 6C
1 =

A1

Now I know that B = -(1/2).

And from the 1st equation I can figure that A1 = +(1/2).
And from the 1st equation I can figure that C = +(1/2).
Final Result:

A1=1/2

A2=2

B=-(1/2)

C=1/2

And we can now write our partial fractions:

x2+15
2

(x+3) (x +3)

1
2(x+3)

2
(x+3)

Phew! Lots of work. But it can be done.

-x+1
2(x2+3)