Long Division Partial Fractions: A Step-By-Step Guide


Are you struggling with long division partial fractions? Don't worry, you're not alone. Many students find this topic difficult to understand, but with the right approach, you can master it. In this article, we'll provide you with a step-by-step guide to help you solve long division partial fractions problems easily. So, let's get started!

Long Division Partial Fractions

What are Partial Fractions?

Before we dive into long division partial fractions, let's first understand what partial fractions are. A partial fraction is a fraction that can be broken down into simpler fractions. For example, the fraction 3/ (x+2)(x+1) can be broken down into the form A/(x+2) + B/(x+1), where A and B are constants. This process of breaking down a fraction into simpler fractions is called partial fraction decomposition.

What is Long Division Partial Fractions?

Long division partial fractions is a method used to solve partial fraction decomposition problems that involve polynomials of higher degrees. This method involves long division of polynomials to obtain a polynomial of a lower degree, which can then be factored into partial fractions.

The Steps to Solving Long Division Partial Fractions

Now that we understand what long division partial fractions are, let's look at the steps involved in solving them.

Step 1: Divide the denominator

The first step in solving long division partial fractions is to divide the denominator of the fraction by the numerator. This will give you a polynomial of a lower degree, which can be factored into partial fractions. Let's take an example to illustrate this:

Divide (2x^3 + 5x^2 + 3x + 1)/(x^2 + 2x + 1)

First, we need to divide the denominator, x^2 + 2x + 1, into the numerator, 2x^3 + 5x^2 + 3x + 1:

Long Division Partial Fractions

The result of the division is 2x - x + 1, which is equal to 2x^2 - x + (x^2 + 2x + 1)/(x^2 + 2x + 1).

Step 2: Factor the reduced polynomial

The next step is to factor the reduced polynomial into partial fractions. The factors of the polynomial will depend on the degree of the polynomial and the nature of its roots. Let's take an example to illustrate this:

Factor (x^2 + 2x + 1)

The polynomial x^2 + 2x + 1 can be factored into (x+1)^2. So, we can write the reduced polynomial as:

2x^2 - x + (x+1)^2/(x+1)^2

which simplifies to:

2x^2 - x + 1 + 1/(x+1)^2

Step 3: Write the partial fraction decomposition

The final step is to write the partial fraction decomposition of the original fraction. Let's take the example we've been using:

2x^3 + 5x^2 + 3x + 1 / (x^2 + 2x + 1) = 2x^2 - x + 1 + 1/(x+1)^2

So, the partial fraction decomposition of 2x^3 + 5x^2 + 3x + 1 / (x^2 + 2x + 1) is:

2x^2 - x + 1 + 1/(x+1)^2

Conclusion

Long division partial fractions can seem daunting at first, but with practice, you can master this topic. Remember, the key to success is to follow the steps carefully and to practice regularly. We hope this guide has been helpful in your understanding of long division partial fractions.


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