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 has the same value as for any value of . We say that
and that the partial fractions of are and .
The ability to express a fraction as its partial fractions is particularly useful in the study of Laplace transforms, -transforms, Control Theory and Integration. In this Section we explain how partial fractions are found.
Prerequisites
- be familiar with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of algebraic fractions
Learning Outcomes
- distinguish between proper and improper fractions
- express an algebraic fraction as the sum of its partial fractions