How do you find int (3x^2 - 10) / (x^2-4x+4) dx using partial fractions?

1 Answer
Feb 27, 2016

3x+12lnabs(x-2)-2/(x-2)+C

Explanation:

First, since the degrees of the numerator and denominator are equal, use polynomial long division to rewrite the expression:

(3x^2-10)/(x^2-4x+4)=3+(12x-22)/(x^2-4x+4)

Now, perform partial fraction decomposition on (12x-22)/(x^2-4x+4), recognizing that x^2-4x+4=(x-2)^2.

(12x-22)/((x-2)^2)=A/(x-2)+B/(x-2)^2

Note that since the term is squared, it will be repeated.

Multiply both sides by (x-2)^2 to see that

12x-22=A(x-2)+B

When we set x=2, we see that

12(2)-22=A(0)+B

2=B

Arbitrarily, set x=3 to solve for A, recalling that B=2:

12(3)-22=A(1)+2

A=12

Thus,

(3x^2-10)/(x^2-4x+4)=3+12/(x-2)+2/(x-2)^2

Now, we can integrate more simply:

int3+12/(x-2)+2/(x-2)^2dx

=3x+12lnabs(x-2)-2/(x-2)+C