How do you write the partial fraction decomposition of the rational expression (x^2+8)/(x^2-5x+6)x2+8x25x+6?

1 Answer
Dec 15, 2015

(x^2+8)/(x^2-5x+6)=1-(5x+2)/(x^2+8)x2+8x25x+6=15x+2x2+8

Explanation:

Since the degree of the denominator is not more than the degree of the numerator, we first long divide the expression to obtain that

(x^2+8)/(x^2-5x+6)=1+(-5x-2)/(x^2+8)x2+8x25x+6=1+5x2x2+8

The denominator x^2+8x2+8 is an irreducible quadratic factor and hence has a partial fraction form given by

(-5x-2)/(x^2+8)=(Ax+B)/(x^2+8)5x2x2+8=Ax+Bx2+8

By comparing terms in the numerator of these equivalent fractions, it is then clear that A=-5 and B=-2A=5andB=2.

Hence the partial fraction decomposition for the original expression is

(x^2+8)/(x^2-5x+6)=1+(-5x-2)/(x^2+8)x2+8x25x+6=1+5x2x2+8