4.5 Integration of Rational Functions by Partial Fractions Brian E.

Veitch

4.5 Integration of Rational Functions by Partial Fractions

From algebra, we learned how to find common denominators so we can do something like this,

2 3 2(x 3) 3(x + 1) 5x 3
+ = + = 2
x+1 x3 (x + 1)(x 3) (x + 1)(x 3) x 2x 3

So why do we need this? We need to know how to do this in the reverse order. If were
5x 3 2 3
given 2 , we need to know that it can be rewritten as + .
x 2x 3 x+1 x3

Why you ask?

5x 3
Z
Lets consider the integral dx.
x2 2x 3

We dont have a method that can do this. We cant use u-substitution, trig substitution,
integration by parts, and there are no powers of trig functions. But what if we wrote the
integral as,

5x 3
Z Z
2 3
2
dx = + dx
x 2x 3 x+1 x3

Now we can evaluate this,

Z
2 3
+ dx = 2 ln |x + 1| + 3 ln |x 3| + C
x+1 x3

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4.5 Integration of Rational Functions by Partial Fractions Brian E. Veitch

5x 3
The next objective is given a rational function like , how do we break it up?
x2 2x 3

4.5.1 Method of Partial Fractions

1. Factor the denominator

x2 2x 3 = (x + 1)(x 3)

2. Next, rewrite the rational function as

5x 3 A B
= +
x2 2x 3 x+1 x3

The numerators are A and B because the denominators are linear factors.

3. Clear denominators by multiplying by (x + 1)(x 3)

5x 3 = A(x 3) + B(x + 1)

5x 3 = Ax 3A + Bx + B

5x 3 = (A + B)x + (3A + B)

4. Match the coefficients

5 = A+B

3 = 3A + B

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4.5 Integration of Rational Functions by Partial Fractions Brian E. Veitch

5. Solve the resulting systems of equations by

(a) Using the substitution method

(b) Using the addition method

(c) Using row reducing with matrices

Solution: A = 2 and B = 3.

5x 3 2 3
Therefore, = +
x2 2x 3 x+1 x3

The next methods require the degree of the numerator to be less than the degree of
the denominator. If the degree of the numerator is the same or higher, you must do long
division before proceeding to the following methods.

4.5.2 Case 1: Denominator is a product of distinct linear factors

P (x)
Suppose you have a rational function, , where the degree of P (x) is smaller than Q(x).
Q(x)
If the degree of P (x) is greater than or equal to Q(x), you must use long division.

Find the factors of Q(x).

x2 + 4x + 1
Z
Example 4.11. Find dx
(x 1)(x + 1)(x + 3)

1. Set up the fraction as,

x2 + 4x + 1 A B C
= + +
(x 1)(x + 1)(x + 3) x1 x+1 x+3

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4.5 Integration of Rational Functions by Partial Fractions Brian E. Veitch

2. Multiply through by (x 1)(x + 1)(x + 3).

x2 + 4x + 1 = A(x + 1)(x + 3) + B(x 1)(x + 3) + C(x 1)(x + 1)

3. Multiply everything out, collect like terms.

x2 + 4x + 1 = Ax2 + 4Ax + 3A + Bx2 + 2Bx 3B + Cx2 C

x2 + 4x + 1 = (A + B + C)x2 + (4A + 2B)x + (3A 3B C)

4. Match coefficients

A+B+C = 1

4A + 2B = 4

3A 3B C = 1

(a) Add equations (1) and (3) together and you get

4A 2B = 2

(b) Pair this with equation (2) and solve

4A 2B = 2

4A + 2B = 4

(c) Add the equations together

3
8A = 6 A =
4

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4.5 Integration of Rational Functions by Partial Fractions Brian E. Veitch

3
5. Pluggin A = into the other equations, we get
4

3 1 1
A = ,B = ,C =
4 2 4
6. Rewrite the integral

x2 + 4x + 1
Z Z
3/4 1/2 1/4
dx = + dx
(x 1)(x + 1)(x + 3) x1 x+1 x+3

7. Now we can integrate

x2 + 4x + 1
Z
3 1 1
dx = ln |x 1| + ln |x + 1| ln |x + 3| + C
(x 1)(x + 1)(x + 3) 4 2 4

4.5.3 Case 2: Denominator is a product of repeated linear factors

If Q(x) has a factor of (x r)n , then you have the following partial fraction breakdown,

A B C
+ + + ... +
x r (x r)2 (x r)3 (x r)n

x4 2x2 + 4x + 1
Z
Example 4.12. Find dx
x3 x2 x + 1

1. Note the numerator has a larger degree than the numerator. You need to do long
division. After you finish, you should have

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4.5 Integration of Rational Functions by Partial Fractions Brian E. Veitch

Z
4x
x+1+ dx
x3 x2
x+1

2. We know how to integrate x + 1, so well just focus on the fraction. Set up the fraction
as,

4x A B C
= + +
x3 x2
x+1 x 1 (x 1)2 (x + 1)

3. Multiply through by (x 1)2 (x + 1)

4x = A(x 1)(x + 1) + B(x + 1) + C(x 1)2

4x = Ax2 A + Bx + B + Cx2 2Cx + C

4x = (A + C)x2 + (B 2C)x + (A + B + C)

4. Match coefficients

A+C = 0

B 2C = 4

A + B + C = 0

5. Solving for A, B, C, we get A = 1, B = 2, C = 1.

6. Rewrite the integral

x4 2x2 + 4x + 1 1
Z Z
1 2
dx = x+1+ + + dx
x3 x2 x + 1 x 1 (x 1) 2 x+1

x4 2x2 + 4x + 1
Z
1 1
3 2
dx = x2 + x + ln |x 1| ln |x + 1| + C
x x x+1 2 x1

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4.5.4 Case 3: Denominator has irreducible quadratic factors

P (x)
If Q(x) in has irreducible factors, the partial fraction breakdown will have the term
Q(x)

Ax + B
ax2 + bx + c
where ax2 + bx + c is the irredicuble quadratic.

You can tell if a quadratic is irreducible if b2 4ac < 0.

2x2 x + 4
Z
Example 4.13. Find dx
x3 + 4x

1. Since the degree of the denominator is bigger, we can start by writing

2x2 x + 4 A Bx + C
2
= + 2
x(x + 4) x x +4

2. Multiply through by x(x2 + 4)

2x2 x + 4 = A(x2 + 4) + (Bx + C)x

2x2 x + 4 = (A + B)x2 + Cx + 4A

3. Match the coefficients

A+B = 2

C = 1

4A = 1

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4.5 Integration of Rational Functions by Partial Fractions Brian E. Veitch

4. Solving the system of equations we get

A = 1, B = 1, C = 1

5. Rewrite the integral

2x2 x + 4 1 1x 1
Z Z
dx = + dx
x3 + 4x x x2 + 4

x1
We really cant do much with except to break it up into two separate integrals.
x2 + 4

2x2 x + 4
Z Z
1 x 1
dx = + 2 2 dx
x3 + 4x x x +4 x +4

A quick note:

Z
1 1 1 x
 
dx = tan
x 2 + a2 a a

and

Z
x
dx requires u-substitution
x2 +4

6. Final Answer

2x2 x + 4
Z  
1 1  2
  + ln x + 4 1 tan1 x + C
  
dx = ln
x3 + 4x x 2 2 2

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4.5 Integration of Rational Functions by Partial Fractions Brian E. Veitch

4.5.5 Case 4: Denonminator has repeated irreducible quadratic factors

P (x) n
If Q(x) in has a repeated irreducible factor (ax2 + bx + c) , the partial fraction break-
Q(x)
down will have the following terms

Ax + B Cx + D Ex + F
2
+ 2 2
+ + ... +
ax + bx + c (ax + bx + c) (ax + bx + c)3
2 (ax2 + bx + c)n

where ax2 + bx + c is the irredicuble quadratic.

x2 + x + 1
Z
Example 4.14. Find dx
(x2 + 1)2

1. Write your fraction as

x2 + x + 1 Ax + B Cx + D
= +
(x2 + 1)2 x2 + 1 (x2 + 1)2

2. Multiply through by (x2 + 1)2

x2 + x + 1 = (Ax + B)(x2 + 1) + Cx + D

x2 + x + 1 = Ax3 + Bx2 + Ax + B + Cx + D

x2 + x + 1 = Ax3 + Bx2 + (A + C)x + (B + D)

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4.5 Integration of Rational Functions by Partial Fractions Brian E. Veitch

3. Match the coefficients

A = 0

B = 1

A+C = 1

B+D = 1

4. Solving this system, we get

A = 0, B = 1, C = 1, D = 0

5. Rewrite the integral

x2 + x + 1
Z Z
1 x
dx = + 2 dx
(x2 + 1)2 x2 + 1 (x + 1)2

Z
x
6. dx requires u-substitution.
(x2 + 1)2

Z
x 1
dx = +C
(x2 + 1) 2 2
2(x + 1)

7. Final Answer:

x2 + x + 1
Z
1
2 2
dx = tan1 (x) 2
+C
(x + 1) 2(x + 1)

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