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: 7

Answer

$\displaystyle \frac{x^{2}+5}{x^{2}-4}$ is improper, $\displaystyle \frac{x^{2}+5}{x^{2}-4}=1+\frac{9}{x^{2}-4}$

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, $P(x)=x^{2}+5, \quad $is $2$, and the degree of the denominator$ , Q(x)=x^{2}-4, \quad $is $2$. The rational expression is improper. To make it proper, $\displaystyle \frac{x^{2}+5}{x^{2}-4}$=$\displaystyle \frac{x^{2}-4+4+5}{x^{2}-4}=\frac{x^{2}-4}{x^{2}-4}+\frac{9}{x^{2}-4}$ $=1+\displaystyle \frac{9}{x^{2}-4}$
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