Chapter 6: Techniques of Integration
Section 6.4: The Algebra of Partial Fractions
Example 6.4.4
Obtain the partial-fraction decomposition of 5⁢x3−11⁢x2+18⁢x+1x4−5⁢x3+14⁢x2−19⁢x+15.
Solution
Mathematical Solution
The denominator, x4−5⁢x3+14⁢x2−19⁢x+15, factors to x2−2⁢x+3⁢x2−3⁢x+5, so the decomposition begins with the identity
5⁢x3−11⁢x2+18⁢x+1x4−5⁢x3+14⁢x2−19 x+15 =b1 x+c1x2−2 x+3+b2 x+c2x2−3 x+5
There are many methods for determining the constants bk,ck,k=1,2. The method adopted here is one that is amenable to an eventual Maple implementation of the underlying strategy. Multiply through by the factored denominator, obtaining
5⁢x3−11⁢x2+18⁢x+1
=b1 x+c1 x2−3 x+5+b2 x+c2 x2−2 x+3
=x3⁢b1+x3⁢b2−3⁢x2⁢b1−2⁢x2⁢b2+x2⁢c1+x2⁢c2+5⁢x⁢b1+3⁢x⁢b2−3⁢x⁢c1−2⁢x⁢c2+5⁢c1+3⁢c2
For this to be an identity in x, the coefficients of like powers of x on each side of the equal sign must match. Hence, the four equations
b1+b2
=5
−3⁢b1−2⁢b2+c1+c2
=−11
5⁢b1+3⁢b2−3⁢c1−2⁢c2
=18
5⁢c1+3⁢c2
=1
must hold. The solution of these equations is b1=2,b2=3,c1=−1,c2=2, and the partial-fraction decomposition of the given rational function is
5⁢x3−11⁢x2+18⁢x+1x4−5⁢x3+14⁢x2−19 x+15 =2⁢x−1x2−2⁢x+3+3⁢x+2x2−3 x+5
Maple Solution
Solution by Context Panel
Control-drag the rational function.
Context Panel: Conversions≻Partial Fractions≻x
5⁢x3−11⁢x2+18⁢x+1x4−5⁢x3+14⁢x2−19 x+15 → 3⁢x+2x2−3⁢x+5+2⁢x−1x2−2⁢x+3
When working interactively, this solution via the Context Panel is probably the most efficient. Of course, there is the command-based conversion to partial fractions, as illustrated in Table 6.4.4(a).
Assign the name f to the given rational function.
f≔5⁢x3−11⁢x2+18⁢x+1x4−5⁢x3+14⁢x2−19 x+15:
Apply the convert command, with the option parfrac, and the independent variable x.
convertf,parfrac,x
3⁢x+2x2−3⁢x+5+2⁢x−1x2−2⁢x+3
Table 6.4.4(a) Use of the convert command to obtain a partial-fraction decomposition
The stepwise partial-fractions task template in Table 6.4.4(b) provides an interactive stepwise solution.
Solution by Task Template
Tools≻Tasks≻Browse: Algebra≻Partial Fractions≻Stepwise
Stepwise Partial Fraction Decomposition
Write rational function here
fx=
↓
↓
Write the partial-fraction decomposition template in this box
≡ *
To determine the constants, multiply both sides of the identity (*) by the denominator of the fraction on the left.
=
fx==
Table 6.4.4(b) Task template for an interactive stepwise partial-fraction decomposition
Table 6.4.4(c) contains an interactive solution from first principles. A similar calculation in the form of a recorded demo can be found here.
Interactive solution from first principles
Control-drag the given rational function.
Context Panel: Assign to a Name≻f
5⁢x3−11⁢x2+18⁢x+1x4−5⁢x3+14⁢x2−19 x+15→assign to a namef
Enter the decomposition template.
Context Panel: Assign to a Name≻g
b1⁢x+c1x2−2⁢x+3+b2⁢x+c2x2−3⁢x+5→assign to a nameg
Write f−g and press the Enter key.
Context Panel: Simplify≻Simplify
Context Panel: Numerator
Context Panel: Collect≻x
Context Panel: Coefficients≻x
Context Panel: Solve≻Solve
Context Panel: Assign to a Name≻S
f−g
5⁢x3−11⁢x2+18⁢x+1x4−5⁢x3+14⁢x2−19⁢x+15−x⁢b1+c1x2−2⁢x+3−x⁢b2+c2x2−3⁢x+5
= simplify
−x3⁢b1+x3⁢b2−5⁢x3−3⁢x2⁢b1−2⁢x2⁢b2+x2⁢c1+x2⁢c2+11⁢x2+5⁢x⁢b1+3⁢x⁢b2−3⁢x⁢c1−2⁢x⁢c2−18⁢x+5⁢c1+3⁢c2−1x2−2⁢x+3⁢x2−3⁢x+5
→numerator
−x3⁢b1−x3⁢b2+5⁢x3+3⁢x2⁢b1+2⁢x2⁢b2−x2⁢c1−x2⁢c2−11⁢x2−5⁢x⁢b1−3⁢x⁢b2+3⁢x⁢c1+2⁢x⁢c2+18⁢x−5⁢c1−3⁢c2+1
= collect w.r.t. x
−b1−b2+5⁢x3+3⁢b1+2⁢b2−c1−c2−11⁢x2+−5⁢b1−3⁢b2+3⁢c1+2⁢c2+18⁢x−5⁢c1−3⁢c2+1
→coefficients in x
−5⁢c1−3⁢c2+1,3⁢b1+2⁢b2−c1−c2−11,−5⁢b1−3⁢b2+3⁢c1+2⁢c2+18,−b1−b2+5
→solve
b1=2,b2=3,c1=−1,c2=2
→assign to a name
S
Expression palette: Evaluation template Evaluate the template g with the parameters in S
gx=a|f(x)S = 3⁢x+2x2−3⁢x+5+2⁢x−1x2−2⁢x+3
Table 6.4.4(c) Interactive solution from first principles
Table 6.4.4(d) contains a coded solution from first principles.
Coded solution from first principles
Write the basic identity for the partial-fraction decomposition.
q1≔f=g
5⁢x3−11⁢x2+18⁢x+1x4−5⁢x3+14⁢x2−19⁢x+15=x⁢b1+c1x2−2⁢x+3+x⁢b2+c2x2−3⁢x+5
Multiply through by the denominator of the rational function.
q2≔simplifyq1⋅denomf
5⁢x3−11⁢x2+18⁢x+1=x3⁢b1+x3⁢b2−3⁢x2⁢b1−2⁢x2⁢b2+x2⁢c1+x2⁢c2+5⁢x⁢b1+3⁢x⁢b2−3⁢x⁢c1−2⁢x⁢c2+5⁢c1+3⁢c2
Form the equation determined by identifying the coefficients of powers of x0.
q3≔mapcoeff,q2,x,0
1=5⁢c1+3⁢c2
Form the equation determined by identifying the coefficients of powers of x1.
q4≔mapcoeff,q2,x,1
18=5⁢b1+3⁢b2−3⁢c1−2⁢c2
Form the equation determined by identifying the coefficients of powers of x2.
q5≔mapcoeff,q2,x,2
−11=−3⁢b1−2⁢b2+c1+c2
Form the equation determined by identifying the coefficients of powers of x3.
q6≔mapcoeff,q2,x,3
5=b1+b2
Solve the four equations in bk,ck,k=1,2.
q7≔solveq3,q4,q5,q6
Evaluate the basic partial-fractions identity with the values of the coefficients determined by the solve command.
evalq1,q7
5⁢x3−11⁢x2+18⁢x+1x4−5⁢x3+14⁢x2−19⁢x+15=3⁢x+2x2−3⁢x+5+2⁢x−1x2−2⁢x+3
Table 6.4.4(d) Coded solution from first principles
Essentially, the partial-fraction decomposition seeks to determine the parameters ak,k=1,…,4, that make equation q1 (in Table 6.4.4(d)) an identity in x. This can be done immediately with the following modification of Maple's solve command.
solveidentityq1,x,b1,c1,b2,c2
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