Examples on Partial Fractions

Recall the following 3 types of partial fractions: (if the fraction is a proper fraction that is)
Type 1:

Type 2(i):

Type 2(ii):

Type 3:

Cover-up Rule can be used completely for this

Cover-up Rule can be used to find this only!

(where and

Important Note:

Example 1:
Express

are positive)

in partial fractions.
The denominator is NOT linear and
also NOT Type 3 linear, so we must
factorize the denominator.

Solution:

Remember to factorize the

denominator if it is not linear
and NOT Type 3.

Important Note on factorization:

Most people use the calculator (mode 2,2) to help
them factorize. But care must be taken to ensure that
our factorization is correct (due to the coefficient of
the - term not being 1):

Applying partial fractions:

From using mode 2,2, we get:

and

. So our factorization would be:

. But that isnt the correct factorization.

Using Cover-up Rule:

Here, we let

Since the coefficient of the -term in

is 2, we must multiply the factorization
obtained from the calculator by 2. Thus the
correct factorization would be:

Here, we let

. The

2 can be multiplied into the factor with the fraction,

giving:

Example 2:
Express

in partial fractions.

Factorize this as it is a Quadratic

Expression that is NOT Type 3

Solution:
Factorize the denominator
This is Type 2(ii)

By Cover-up Rule:

Only these to 2 can be found by cover-up Rule

Here, we let

Here, we let

To find : We let
Thus we let

be any value that is not

or 2

in

Solve for

Thus:

As we have use these in Coverup, We cant use

or
.

Example 3:
Express

in partial fractions.
This is a Quadratic Expression of Type 3. So we
shall apply Type 3 Partial Fraction

Solution:
Before we apply Type 3 Partial Fractions, Realize that the fraction is not a proper fraction
as the degree of the numerator (degree of numerator
) is the same as the degree of the
denominator (Degree of numerator
). Thus, we shall apply Long Division first.
To apply long division first, we must ensure both the numerator & denominator are in
expanded form and write the numerator & denominator in descending powers:

Write

in descending powers of :

This is the quotient

Stop the long division when the

degree of the remainder is smaller
than the degree of divisor

After long division, the division can be written as:

Apply Partial Fractions on this

Type 3 Partial Fractions

Have to factorize denominator

to in order to apply Partial
Fractions

Apply Cover-up Rule on this!

By Cover-up Rule:

To find and , one have to multiply the denominator on

to get rid of ALL fractions
and then COMPARE COEFFICIENTS on both sides of the equation

on both sides

Collate the same

terms together on

terms

terms

terms

By comparing coefficients of the same terms on both sides:

Comparing

-term on both sides:

Comparing constant term on both sides:

Thus:

This is the Answer