Polynomials: Partial Fractions

Mathematics T & S

Partial fractions Rules for solving partial fractions: 1.Improper fractions: Convert it into proper fractions before applying any partial fractions rules. Proper fraction : Degree of numerator is less than the degree of denominator. Examples a) b)

x 1 ( x + 5)( x 6) 3 4 x ( x + 2)

Improper fraction : Degree of numerator is less than or equal to the degree of denominator. Examples a)

x3 2 ( x + 1) ( x 5) x2 x ( x + 1)

b)

2.Rule 1 If the algebraic function is an improper fraction, use the long division method to divide until the degree of numerators is less than that of the denominator. Question 1 Convert each of the following into proper fractions. 3 x2 (a) ( x 1)( x + 2) (b) x3 ( x 1)( x + 5)

3.Rule 2 Denominator with linear factor. For every linear factor on the denominator, the corresponding partial fraction is of the form , where A is a constant. Question 2 Express as partial fractions for: 4x (a) (5 x 1)( x + 2)

A ax + b

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By KKH

2 1 + Polynomials: Partial 1 x +1 x Fractions

3 x 1 ( x +1)( x 1)

Mathematics T & S

Simplify

Partial fraction (b)

x x 16
2

Rule 3 Denominator with a repeating linear factor. For denominator with linear factor (ax + b) which repeat r times, then the partial fraction will be of the form:

4.Rule 4 Denominator with quadratic factor. 2 For every quadratic factor (ax + bx + c) in the denominator, the partial fraction can be expressed in the form Note 1 Dont use Rule No. 4 if the denominator with quadratic or higher degree factors which can be factorised into linear factors. Factorised it into linear factors and applied Rule No. 2. Example: 1 1 = ( x + 2)( x 2 + 3 x 4) ( x + 2)( x + 4)( x 1)

Ax + B ax + bx + c
2

A1 A2 Ar + + ..... + 2 ax + b ( ax + b) (ax + b)r 2x + 1 For instance, the partial fraction for can be x (3 x 8)3 A B C D + + + expressed as ; that 2 x (3 x 8) (3 x 8) (3 x 8)3
is

2x + 1 x (3 x 8)3
Question 3

A B C + + 2 x (3 x 8) (3 x 8)

D + (3 x 3 8)

A x +2

B x+4

C x 1

Express the following in partial fractions: (a) (b)

3x 2 2 (2 x + 1)( x 1) 2 4 x 2 (8 x 1) 2

[ x + 3x 4 can be factorised into (x + 4)(x 1), hence it cannot be consider as quadratic factor] Question 4

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By KKH

Polynomials: Partial Fractions Express

Mathematics T & S b) Hence prove that,

3x in partial fraction. x 8
3

Exercise Express the following in partial fractions: x 8 1. ( x + 1)( x 2) 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

1 1 1 + ( x 5)2 ( x 4)2 ( x 5)2 ( x 4)2 2 2 + x4 x 5

20. a) Express each of the following in partial fraction i) ii)

2x x2 1 5x + 7 x 2 + 2x 3 5x 2x + 1 x3 1+ x 2 x (1 x )
2

3 x + 13 ( x + 3)( x + 1) 2 ( x + 3)( x + 1)

b) Hence prove that

4 25 10 (3 x + 13)2 + + ( x + 3)2 ( x + 1)2 ( x + 3) ( x + 3)2 ( x + 1)2 10 ( x + 1)

21. Express f(x) =

6+ x x ( x + 2)( x 2 + 2)
4

x2 x 1 in partial fractions. ( x + 2)( x 3)

x +x ( x 1)( x 2 + 1)
2

11x 2 x 2 60 8 x 3 + 27 3 4x x 1+ x 3
2 2

[2005P1.11(a)] 22. Find the constants A , B , C and D such that C D 3x 2 + 5 x A B = + + + (1 x 2 )(1 + x)2 1 x 1 + x (1 + x) 2 (1 + x)3 [8 marks][2007.P1.7] 5. Given f(x) = (a)

x3 3x 4 , ( x 1)( x 2 + 1)
[5 marks][2010P1.8a]

find the constants A, B, C and D such that

12 x 15 x + 10 (3 x 2)(3 x 2 x + 2) 3 4x x 2 1+ x 3 2x 2 + 4x 3 ( x + 1)(2 x 3) 3 x 4 3 x 3 17 x 2 x 1 ( x 3)( x + 2) 3x x3 + 1 4x3 + 6x + 1 ( x + 1)(2 x 1)

4

f(x) = A +

B Cx + D + 2 x 1 x + 1

Answers 1. 3. 5. 7. 9. 11.

2 16. Express in partial fractions, and use ( x 1)( x 3)

the result to express

4 in partial fractions. ( x 1) ( x 3)2

2

17. Given

x 2 + 3x (1 x )(1+ x )2
2

A B C + + , 1 x 1+ x (1+ x )2

find A, B and C. 18. Factorise x + 4 as the product of 2 factors which contains complex numbers. Hence, determine the

13.

3 2 x +1 x 2 2 3 + x + 3 x 1 1 2 2 + + 2 x x 1x 1 1 + 2 x 1 x +1 2 1 3x + 2 1+ x x x + 1 2 + 1+ x 1 3x x2 x + 1
3x
2

1 1 + x +1 x 1 4. 5 2 1 + x x2 x3 6. 2 1 + 2 2xx + 2 x +2 8. 5 x 11 3 2 4x 6 x + 9 2x + 3 10. 2 2x 3 + 2 3x 2 3x x + 2 12. 1 3 1+ + x + 1 2x 3

2.

+1+

14.

3x+

1 . [ (x+2i)(x-2i);] x +4 1 19. a) Express in partial fractions. ( x 5)( x 4)

partial fractions for
2

15a)

1 1 x 3 x +2 1 1 x 5 x 4

1 x +1 2 x +1 x x +1
16.a) i)

5 2 ; ii) x +1 x + 3 1 1 + x + 3 x 1
By KKH

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Polynomials: Partial Fractions 17. 20a(i) A= 1, B = 0, C = -1. 19a)

Mathematics T & S

1 1 x 5 x4

5 1 x +1 x + 3

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By KKH

Flow Chart For Solving Partial Fractions

Partial Fractions Partial Fractions -5Mathematics T & S

Yes

Is it an improper fraction?

Divide until the degree for the numerator is lower than the denominator

No

Is the denominator a linear factor?

Yes

No

Yes

Is it a linear repeated factor 2 (ax+b) ?

No

Is it a quadratic 2 factor ax + bx + c?

Yes

A B + (ax + b) (ax + b)2

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By KKH