Introduction

It is often helpful to break down a complicated algebraic fraction into a sum of simpler fractions. For example it can be shown that 4 x + 7 x 2 + 3 x + 2 has the same value as 1 x + 2 + 3 x + 1 for any value of x . We say that

4 x + 7 x 2 + 3 x + 2 is identically equal to 1 x + 2 + 3 x + 1

and that the partial fractions of 4 x + 7 x 2 + 3 x + 2 are 1 x + 2 and 3 x + 1 .

The ability to express a fraction as its partial fractions is particularly useful in the study of Laplace transforms, Z -transforms, Control Theory and Integration. In this Section we explain how partial fractions are found.

Prerequisites

Learning Outcomes

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