College Algebra (10th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321979478
ISBN 13: 978-0-32197-947-6

Chapter 8 - Section 8.5 - Partial Fraction Decomposition - 8.5 Assess Your Understanding - Page 608: 11

Answer

The rational expression is improper. To make it proper, $\displaystyle \frac{x(x-1)}{(x+4)(x-3)}=1+\frac{-2(x-6)}{(x+4)(x-3)}$

Work Step by Step

The rational expression $\displaystyle \frac{P}{Q}$ is called proper if the degree of the polynomial in the numerator is less than the degree of the polynomial in the denominator. Otherwise, the rational expression is called improper. --- The degree of the numerator is $2$, and the degree of the denominator is $2$. The rational expression is improper. To make it proper, $\displaystyle \frac{x(x-1)}{(x+4)(x-3)} =\frac{x^{2}-x}{x^{2}+x-12}$ $=\displaystyle \frac{(x^{2}+x-12) -2x+12}{x^{2}+x-12}$ $=\displaystyle \frac{(x^{2}+x-12) }{x^{2}+x-12} + \frac{-2x+12}{x^{2}+x-12}$ $=1+\displaystyle \frac{-2(x-6)}{(x+4)(x-3)}$
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