Module 8: Integration of Rational Fraction (Partial Fractions)

Student Learning Objectives (SLO)

Upon completion of this module, students will be able to:
• translate a rational fraction to partial fraction; and
• evaluate integrals using partial fractions.

INTEGRATION OF RATIONAL FRACTION (PARTIAL FRACTIONS)

Definition:
A rational function is a function which can be expressed as the
quotient of two polynomial functions. That is, a function H is a rational

f (x )
H ( x )=
function if g(x) where both f(x) and g(x) are polynomials. In general,

f (x)
∫ g ( x ) dx
we shall be concerned in integrating expressions of the form .
A rational fraction is a fraction in which the numerators and
denominators are polynomials in the variable of integration.
If the degree of f(x) is less than the degree of g(x), their quotient is
called proper fraction; otherwise, it is called improper fraction. An improper
rational function can be expressed as the sum of a polynomial and a proper
rational function. Thus, given a improper rational function:

x3 x
2
=x− 2
x +1 x +1
Every improper rational function can be expressed as the sum of
simpler fractions (partial fractions) which may have a denominator which is
of linear or quadratic form.
The method of partial fractions is an algebraic procedure of expressing
a given rational function as a sum of simpler fractions which is called the
partial fraction decomposition of the original rational function. The rational
function must be in its proper fraction form to use the partial fraction
method.

Four cases shall be considered:

Case 1. Distinct linear factor of the denominator.

For each linear factor

a i x +b i of the denominator, there corresponds a
partial fraction having that factor as the denominator and a constant
numerator.

f (x) A B N
= + +.. .+
That is,
g ( x ) a1 x +b1 a 2 x +b 2 an x +b n

where A, B, …..N are constants to be determined

f (x) A B N
∫ g ( x ) dx=∫ a x +b
dx +∫
a x +b
dx +. ..+∫
a x+ b
dx
Thus, 1 1 2 2 n n

Case 2. Repeated linear factor of the denominator

If the linear factor ( ax +b )n appears as the denominator of the rational

function for each repeated linear factor of the denominator, there
corresponds a series of partial fractions,
A B C N
+ + +. . .+
ax +b ( ax+ b )2 ( ax +b )3 ( ax +b )n
where A, B, C, …, N are constants to be determined.
The degree n of the repeated linear factor gives the number of partial
fractions in a series. Thus,

f (x) A B C N
∫ g( x ) dx=∫ ax+ dx+∫ dx +∫ dx+. . .+∫ dx
b ( ax +b )2 ( ax +b )3 ( ax +b )n

Case 3. Non-repeated quadratic factor of the denominator

 For each non-repeated irreducible quadratic factor of the denominator

( ax 2 + bx+ c ) there corresponds a partial fraction of the form.

f ( x ) A ( 2 a1 x 1 +b1 )+ B C ( 2 a2 x+ b2 )+ D N (2 a n x+ bn )+ M
= + + .. .+
g( x) a 1 x2 +b1 x +c 1 a2 x 2 + b2 x +c 2 a n x 2 +b n x+ c n
where A, B, C, …, N are constants to be determined.
Thus,

f ( x) A ( 2 a1 x 1 +b 1 )+ B C ( 2a 2 x+ b2 )+ D N ( 2 an x +b n )+ M
∫ g ( x ) dx=∫ +∫ +. . .+∫
a1 x 2 +b1 x +c 1 a2 x 2 + b2 x +c 2 an x 2 + bn x +c n

Case 4. Repeated quadratic factor of the denominator

For each repeated irreducible quadratic factor of the denominator

( ax 2 + bx+ c )n there corresponds a partial fraction of the form.

f ( x ) A ( 2 ax+ b)+ B C ( 2 ax +b )+ D N (2 ax +b )+ M
= + +. ..+
g( x) ax 2 + bx+ c (ax 2 + bx+ c )2 (ax 2 +bx +c )n
where A, B, C, …, N are constants to be determined.
Thus,

f ( x) A( 2 ax +b )+B C ( 2 ax +b )+ D N ( 2 ax+ b)+ M

∫ g ( x ) =∫ ax 2 +bx +c
+∫ ( ax 2 + bx+ c )2
+. ..+∫ ( ax 2 +bx +c )n

Two methods of solution of finding the values of the literal constant A, B, C,

…, N
Method I: By substitution or arbitrary values
Method II: Equating coefficients of equal powers of the given variable

3 x 2 +15 x−12
∫ x ( x+2 )( x−3 ) dx=
Example1: Evaluate using method I.
Solution:
3 x 2 +15 x−12 A B C
= + +
( )
x x +2 ( x−3) x x +2 x−3
2
3 x +15 x−12=A ( x+2 )( x−3 )+ B ( x )( x−3 ) +C ( x ) (x+ 2)
Let x = 0; x + 2 = 0; and x – 3 =0.
x = 0; x = -2; x = 3
If x = 0
2
3( 0) +15( 0)−12= A ( 0+2 )( 0−3 ) + B ( 0 ) ( 0−3 )+C ( 0 ) (0+ 2)
-12 = A(-6)
A=2
If x = -2
2
3(−2) +15(−2)−12=A (−2+2 ) (−2−3 ) + B (−2 ) (−2−3 ) +C (−2 ) (−2+2)
12 – 30 – 12 = B(-2)(-5)
-30 = 10B
B = -3
If x = 3
2
3(3) +15(3)−12=A ( 3+2 ) ( 3−3 )+ B ( 3 ) ( 3−3 )+C ( 3 ) (3+2)
27 + 45 – 12 = C(3)(5)
60 = 15C
C=4

=∫ ( +
x x+ 2 x−3 )
2
∫ 3x x( x++15 x−12
2 ) (x−3)
A B
+
C
dx

¿∫ ( 2x + x−3+2 + x−3
4
) dx
dx dx dx
¿ 2∫ −3 ∫ +4 ∫
x x+2 x−3
¿ 2 ln |x|−3 ln|x +2|+ 4 ln|x −3|+C

x 3 + x 2 +10 x +45
∫ dx=
Example2: Evaluate using Method II & III. ( x+1 ) (
2 2
x +4 )
 3 2
x + x +10 x+ 45 A B C (2 x )+D
= + +
( x +1 ) ( x + 4 ) ( x 2 +4 )
2 2 2
x+1 ( x+1 )

x 3 + x 2+10 x +45= A ( x+ 1 ) ( x 2 +4 ) + B ( x 2+ 4 )+ [ C ( 2 x ) + D ] ( x +1 )
2

x 3 + x 2+10 x +45= A ( x 3+ x2 + 4 x +4 ) + B x 2 +4 B+ 2 x 3 C +2 x 2 C+ 2 xC + x 2 D+2 xD+ D

3 2 3 2 2 3 2 2
x + x +10 x +45=x A+ x A +4 x A+ 4 A+ B x + 4 B+2 x C+ 4 x C +2 xC+ x D+ 2 xD+ D
Let x=-1; -1+1-10+45 = 0+5B+ 0; 35 = 5B, B= 7
X3: 1 = A + 2C
X2: 1 = A + B +4C + D; -6 = A + 4C + D
X: 10 = 4A +2C + 2D
C: 45 = 4A +4B+D; 17 = 4A + D
Equate eq’n 2 and 4
17 = 4A + D
-6 = A + 4C + D
23 = 3A – 4C
----
23 = 3A – 4C
3 = 3A + 6C
20 = -10C
C = -2;
---
1 = A +2(-2)
A=5
---
1 = A + B +4C + D
1= 5 + 7 +4(-2) + D
-3 = D
3 2
x + x +10 x+ 45 5 7 2 (2 x ) +3
= + − 2
( x +1 ) ( x + 4 ) ( x + 4)
2 2 2
x+1 ( x+1 )
3 2
x + x +10 x+ 45 5 7 4x 3
= + − 2 − 2
( x +1 ) ( x + 4 ) ( x+1 ) ( x + 4 ) ( x + 4 )
2 2 2
x+1
∫ x 3+ x2 +10 x +45
( x+1 ) ( x + 4 )
2 2
dx=∫
[5
x+ 1
+
7
2
4x
− 2 − 2
3
]
( x+ 1 ) ( x +4 ) ( x + 4 )
dx

√3 x 4 +2 x +1
∫1 x3 + x
Drill: Evaluate

References:
 Peterson, Thurman (1968) Calculus with Analytic Geometry. Ken
Incorporated, Quezon City.
 Panopio, Felix (1998) Simplified Integral Calculus. Feliber Publishing House.
 Montero-Galliguez, Thelma (2011) Integral Calculus. Quezon City: C & E
Publishing, Inc.
Prepared:
Checked: Approved:

Miss JULIE ANN D.

___________________ _________________
MENDOZA
Department Head Dean
Instructor