How do you integrate int (2x^3 - 4x^2 -15x + 5) / (x^2 -2x - 8) using partial fractions?

1 Answer
Nov 19, 2016

=x^2 + 3/2ln|x - 4| - 1/2ln|x + 2| + C

Explanation:

First divide the numerator by the denominator using long division.

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So, our new integral is int(2x + (x + 5)/(x^2 - 2x - 8))dx

We now can write (x + 5)/(x^2 - 2x - 8) in partial fractions.

First of all, x^2 - 2x - 8 can be factored as (x- 4)(x + 2).

A/(x- 4) + B/(x + 2) = (x + 5)/((x- 4)(x + 2))

A(x + 2) + B(x- 4) = x + 5

Ax + 2A + Bx - 4B = x + 5

(A + B)x + (2A - 4B) = x + 5

We can now write a system of equations.

{(A + B = 1), (2A - 4B = 5):}

Solving:

B = 1 - A

2A - 4(1 - A) = 5

2A - 4 + 4A = 5

6A = 9

A = 3/2

B = -1/2

Hence, the partial fraction decomposition of (x + 5)/(x^2- 2x - 8) is 3/(2(x - 4)) - 1/(2(x + 2))

The integral now becomes:

int(2x + 3/(2(x - 4)) - 1/(2(x + 2)))dx

Which can be readily integrated as;

x^2 + 3/2ln|x - 4| - 1/2ln|x + 2| + C using the rule int(1/u)du = ln|u| + C and int(x^n)dx = (x^(n + 1))/(n + 1). You can check the result by differentiating.

Hopefully this helps!