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: 13

Answer

$ \displaystyle \frac{4}{x(x-1)}=\frac{-4}{x}+\frac{4}{x-1}$

Work Step by Step

This is Case 1: Q has only nonrepeated linear factors. $\displaystyle \frac{4}{x(x-1)}=\frac{A}{x}+\frac{B}{x-1} $ ... write the RHs with a common denominator $ \displaystyle \frac{4}{x(x-1)}=\frac{A(x-1)+Bx}{x(x-1)}$ ... equate the numerators $4=Ax-A+Bx$ $4=(A+B)x-A$ ... equate the coefficients of the polynomials on the LHS and RHS: $\left\{\begin{array}{lll} 0 & =A+B & \\ 4 & =-A & \Rightarrow A=-4 \end{array}\right.$ Substitute $A=-4$ into the first equation $B-4=0$ $B=4$ $ \displaystyle \frac{4}{x(x-1)}=\frac{-4}{x}+\frac{4}{x-1}$
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