How do you integrate int x/((x-6)(x-3) dxx(x6)(x3)dx using partial fractions?

1 Answer
Nov 24, 2015

intx/((x-6)(x-3))dx = 2ln|x-6| - ln|x-3| + Cx(x6)(x3)dx=2ln|x6|ln|x3|+C

Explanation:

To find the partial fraction decomposition, we begin with

x/((x-6)(x-3)) = A/(x-6) + B/(x-3)x(x6)(x3)=Ax6+Bx3

Multiplying by (x-6)(x-3)(x6)(x3) gives us

x = A(x-3)+B(x-6) = (A+B)x + (-3A - 6B)x=A(x3)+B(x6)=(A+B)x+(3A6B)

Matching respective coefficients on each side gives us the system of equations

{(A + B = 1), (-3A -6B = 0):}

Now all we need to do is solve for A and B. For example, using elimination,

(-3A - 6B) + 3(A+B) = 0 + 3(1)
=> -3B = 3
=> B = -1

Then, substituting

A - 1 = 1
=> A = 2

So the decomposition is

x/((x-6)(x-3)) = 2/(x-6) - 1/(x-3)

Now we can do the integral relatively easily.

intx/((x-6)(x-3))dx = int(2/(x-6) - 1/(x-3))dx

int(2/(x-6) - 1/(x-3))dx = 2int(1/(x-6))dx - int(1/(x-3))dx

A couple of simple u substitutions, together with int(1/x)dx = ln|x|+C
gives us

2int(1/(x-6))dx = 2ln|x-6| + C
and
-int(1/(x-3))dx = -ln|x-3|+C

So putting it all together, we get

intx/((x-6)(x-3))dx = 2ln|x-6| - ln|x-3| + C