Math 162

Class 14

Partial Fractions

  • If there is \((ax + b)^k\) factor in the denominator, the corresponding partial fractions are

    \[\frac{A_1}{ax + b} + \frac{A_2}{(ax + b)^2} + \frac{A_3}{(ax+b)^3} + \cdots + \frac{A_k}{(ax+b)^k}\]

  • If there is an irreducible \((ax^2 + b)^k\) factor in the denominator, the corresponding partial fractions are

    \[\frac{B_1x + C_1}{ax + b} + \frac{B_2 x + C_2}{(ax + b)^2} + \frac{B_3 x + C_3}{(ax+b)^3} + \cdots + \frac{B_k x + C_k}{(ax+b)^k}\]

\(\displaystyle \frac{x^2 + 2x+1}{(x+1)^3(x^2+2)^2}\)

Rational Zeros Theorem

If a polynomial

\[a_nx^n + a_{n-1}x^{n-1} + \cdots + a_2x^2 + a_1 x + a_0\]

has a rational zero \(r = \frac{p}{q}\) (simplified)

then \(p\) is a factor of \(a_0\) and \(q\) is a factor of \(a_n\).

\[6 x^{5} + 5 x^{4} - 35 x^{3} - 15 x^{2} + 29 x + 10\]

Factoring {.}

Using Synthetic division (a.k.a nested evaluation a.k.a. H"orner’s algorithm)

\[6 x^{5} + 5 x^{4} - 35 x^{3} - 15 x^{2} + 29 x + 10\]

Factor the polynomial \(2x^4 - 7x^3 - 18x^2 + 13x + 10\).

Write this rational function as a sum of rational functions with prime denominators: \[\frac{x^3 + 3x^2 - 2x + 1}{2x^4 - 7x^3 - 18x^2 + 13x + 10}\]

Factor the polynomial \(3x^4 - x^3 - 9x^2 + 9x - 2\).

\(\displaystyle \int\frac{3 x^{3} + 15 x^{2} - 11 x + 5}{3 x^{4} - x^{3} - 9 x^{2} + 9 x - 2}\;dx\)

\(\displaystyle \int \frac{3x + 1}{x^2 + 2}\;dx\)

Factor the polynomial \(x^4 + 3x^3 + 2x^2 - 2x - 4\).

\(\displaystyle \int \frac{2 x^{3} + 8 x^2 + 5x}{x^{4} + 3 x^{3} + 2 x^{2} - 2 x - 4}\;dx\)