Warm Up

Graph  x3  8
g ( x)  2
x 1
2

V . A.  none 2

S . A.  y   x
2

(0,8)(2,0)
Partial Fraction
Decomposition
Chapter 2.7
Day 1 of 3
Wednesday, December 8, 2021
Partial Fraction Decomposition
The purpose of PFD is to separate a fraction into
a sum of pre LCD terms.

5 x  16 2 3
 
( x  4)( x  2) x4 x2
 Partial Fraction Decomposition
1) Check if the fraction is proper (The power x7
in the numerator is less than that of the
denominator.) If it is not then divide. x2  x  6
x7
2) Factor the denominator.
( x  3)( x  2)
3) Set up the factors. Don’t forget any x7 A B
special rules. (Details to come.)  
( x  3)( x  2) x  3 x  2

4) Solve for A, B, etc. Use matching or

substitution method.
 Substitution Method
4.1A) Multiply both sides by the LCD
x7 A B
( x  3)( x  2)  ( x  3)( x  2)  ( x  3)( x  2)
( x  3)( x  2) x 3 x2

x  7  ( x  2) A  ( x  3) B

4.2A) Substitute a value for x that will eliminate A.

x  2  2  7  (2  2) A  (2  3) B
5  0 A  5B
5  5 B
1  B
 Substitution Method
4.3A) Substitute a value for x that will eliminate B.
x3 3  7  (3  2) A  (3  3) B
10  5 A  0 B
2 A
5) Substitute A, B, etc. back into the original expansion.
A B

x3 x 2
2 1

x3 x 2
 Improper Fractions
1) Check if the fraction is proper (The power in the numerator is
less than that of the denominator.) If it is not then divide.
x 4  2 x 3  6 x 2  20 x  6
x
x3  2 x 2  x
x3  2x 2  x x 4  2 x 3  6 x 2  20 x  6
 ( x  2x  x )
4 3 2

5 x 2  20 x  6

1A) Perform the PFD on the 5 x 2  20 x  6

remainder over the divisor. x 3
x  2x2  x
 Repeated Factor Rule
2) Factor the denominator.
5 x 2  20 x  6 5 x 2  20 x  6 5 x 2  20 x  6
 
x  2x  x
3 2
x( x 2  2 x  1) x( x  1) 2
3) Set up the factors. Don’t forget any special rules.
3A) The repeated factor rule. If a factor occurs more than
once then a term for each occurrence starting at power
1 and up to power n must be placed.

5 x 2  20 x  6 A B C
  
x( x  1) 2
x x  1 ( x  1) 2
 Partial Fraction Decomposition
4) Solve for A, B and C. 5 x 2  20 x  6 A B C
  
x( x  1) 2
x x  1 ( x  1) 2
4.1A) Multiply both sides by the LCD
5 x 2
 20 x  6 2 A 2 B C
x( x  1) 2
 x( x  1)  x( x  1)  x( x  1) 2

x( x  1) 2
x x 1 ( x  1) 2
5 x 2  20 x  6  ( x  1) 2 A  x( x  1) B  xC
4.2A) Substitute a value for x that will eliminate A.
x  1 5(1) 2  20(1)  6  (1  1) 2 A  (1)(1  1) B  (1)C
5  20  6  0 A  0 B  C
 9  C 9C
Partial Fraction Decomposition
4.3A) Substitute a value for x that will eliminate B.
x0 5(0) 2  20(0)  6  (0  1) 2 A  0(0  1) B  0C
6 A
5 x 2  20 x  6  ( x  1) 2 A  x( x  1) B  xC

4.4A) Substitute back A and C

5 x 2  20 x  6  ( x  1) 2 6  x( x  1) B  x9
 Partial Fraction Decomposition
4.5A) Substitute in any value for x but 0 and -1.
x 1 5(1) 2  20(1)  6  (1  1) 2 6  1(1  1) B  (1)9
5  20  6  24  2 B  9
31  24  2 B  9
31  33  2 B
 2  2B
1  B
5) Substitute A, B and C back into the original expansion.
6 1 9
x  
x x  1 ( x  1) 2
 Partial Fraction Decomposition
3x  4 A B x0 3(0)  4  (0  2) A  2
 
( x  2) 2
x  2 ( x  2) 2
4  2A  2
3 x  4  ( x  2) A  B 6  2A
x  2 3(2)  4  (2  2) A  B 3 A
 6  4  (0) A  B
2 B 3 2

x  2 ( x  2) 2
3x  4  ( x  2) A  2
Check Your Work
3 2 3x  4

x  2 ( x  2) 2 ( x  2) 2
3( x  2) 2

( x  2) ( x  2 ) 2
2

3x  6 2

( x  2) ( x  2) 2
2

3x  6  2
( x  2) 2