QuestionFind the partial fraction decomposition of the following rational expression. (Use integers or fractions for any numbers in the expression.)
Studdy Solution
STEP 1
What is this asking? Rewrite this big fraction as the sum of smaller, simpler fractions! Watch out! Remember that can't be factored further using real numbers, so we'll need to handle it differently than if it were .
STEP 2
1. Set up the decomposition.
2. Multiply and simplify.
3. Solve for the unknowns.
4. Write the final decomposition.
STEP 3
We've got a factor of and a factor of , both in the **denominator**.
Since is just a regular **linear factor**, it gets a constant, say , on top.
So, we have a fraction .
STEP 4
Now, is a **quadratic factor** that can't be factored further.
That means it gets a linear term, say , on top.
So, we have another fraction .
STEP 5
Putting it all together, our **partial fraction decomposition** looks like this:
STEP 6
To get rid of those pesky **denominators**, let's multiply both sides of our equation by .
This gives us:
STEP 7
Now, let's **expand** and **group like terms**:
STEP 8
Now comes the fun part!
We're going to match up the **coefficients** on both sides of the equation.
Notice that the left side has no term, so the coefficient of is **zero**.
This means .
STEP 9
The left side also has no term, so .
That simplifies things nicely!
STEP 10
Finally, the **constant term** on the left side is **12**, so .
Dividing both sides by **4**, we get .
STEP 11
Since and , we have , which means .
STEP 12
We found , , and .
Plugging these values back into our **decomposition setup**, we get:
which simplifies to:
STEP 13
Our **final answer** is .
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