Partial fraction decomposition over R

In mathematics, partial fractions are used in real-variable integral calculus to find real-valued antiderivatives of rational functions. The partial fraction decomposition of real rational functions is also used for Laplace transforms.

This article describes the general method for obtaining the partial fraction decomposition of any real rational function. The proof of the existence of the partial fraction decomposition over an arbitrary field is not given here. For a sketch of the general proof, see partial fraction.

For applications of partial fraction decomposition over R, see

• Partial fractions in integration
• Partial fractions in Laplace transforms

First we state the general result, and then we offer several examples to illustrate the result and show how the method is used in practice.

Table of contents

1 General result 2 The algorithm 3 Some examples

General result

Let f(x) be any rational function over the real numbers. In other words, suppose there exist real polynomials p(x) and q(x)≠ 0, such that

By removing the leading coefficient of q(x), we may assume without loss of generality that q(x) is monic. By the fundamental theorem of algebra, we can write

where a₁,..., a_m, b₁,..., b_n, c₁,..., c_n are real numbers with b_i² - 4c_i < 0, and j₁,..., j_m, k₁,..., k_n are positive integers. The terms (x - a_i) are the linear factors of q(x) which correspond to real roots of q(x), and the terms (x_i² + b_ix + c_i) are the irreducible quadratic factors of q(x) which correspond to pairs of complex conjugate roots of q(x).

Then the partial fraction decomposition of f(x) is the following.

Here, P(x) is a (possibly zero) polynomial, and the A_ir, B_ir, and C_ir are real constants. There are a number of ways the constants can be found.

The most straightforward method is to multiply through by the common denominator q(x). We then obtain an equation of polynomials whose left-hand side is simply p(x) and whose right-hand side has coefficients which are linear expressions of the constants A_ir, B_ir, and C_ir. Since two polynomials are equal if and only if their corresponding coefficients are equal, we can equate the coefficients of like terms. In this way, a system of linear equations is obtained which always has a unique solution. This solution can be found using any of the standard methods of linear algebra. However, this is often not the best way to go when computing by pencil and paper, and there are other ways ("tricks") to obtain the constants.

The algorithm

The partial fraction decomposition of a real rational function can be obtained by the following procedure:

1. Remove the leading coefficient of the denominator q(x) if necessary.
2. Reduce the rational function as much as possible; i.e. cancel any obvious common factors of the numerator and denominator.
3. Make sure the degree of the numerator p(x) is strictly smaller than the degree of the denominator q(x). If it is not, then use the division algorithm for polynomials and long-divide the denominator into the numerator. You will get a (nonzero) polynomial quotient and a remainder whose degree is now strictly smaller than the degree of the denominator. Take this remainder as your new numerator and continue with the following steps. (Don't forget the polynomial quotient when you're done!)
4. Factor the denominator q(x) into linear and irreducible quadratic factors. This is not a straightforward task; however, you have some tools to use. If you find any real root a of q(x), then you know that (x - a) is a factor of q(x). Also, if you differentiate q(x) and use the Euclidean algorithm to find the greatest common divisor of q ' (x) and q(x), then any real root a of the greatest common divisor gives you a factor (x - a). You can look for ways to complete the square in different powers of x. Most importantly, you can use the rational root test to determine all possible rational roots of q(x).
5. Express the partial fraction decomposition of f(x) as the sum of double sums above.
6. Find the constants A_ir, B_ir, and C_ir by whatever methods possible. (These methods are described below.) Once you have found all the constants, you now have the partial fraction decomposition. (Don't forget the polynomial quotient!)

Some examples

Example 1

Here, the denominator splits into two distinct linear factors:

so we have the partial fraction decomposition

Multiplying through by x² + 2x - 3, we have the polynomial identity

Substituting x = -3 and x = 1 into this equation gives A = -1/4 and B = 1/4, so that

Example 2

After long-division, we have

Since (-4)²-4(8) = -16 < 0, x² - 4x + 8 is irreducible, and so

Multiplying through by x³ - 4x² + 8x, we have the polynomial identity

Taking x = 0, we see that 16 = 8A, so A = 2. Comparing the x² coefficients, we see that 4 = A + B = 2 + B, so B = 2. Comparing linear coefficients, we see that -8 = -4A + C = -8 + C, so C = 0. Altogether,

The following example illustrates almost all the "tricks" one would need to use short of consulting a computer algebra system.

Example 3

After long-division and factoring, we have

The partial fraction decomposition takes the form

Multiplying through by (x - 1)³(x² + 1)² we have the polynomial identity

Taking x = 1 gives 4 = 4C, so C = 1. Similarly, taking x = i gives 2 + 2i = (Fi + G)(2 + 2i), so Fi + G = 1, so F = 0 and G = 1 by equating real and imaginary parts. We now have the identity

Taking constant terms gives E = A - B + 1, taking leading coefficients gives A = -D, and taking x-coefficients gives B = 3 - D - 3E. Putting all of this together, E = A - B + 1 = -D - (3 - D - 3E) + 1 = 3E - 2, so E = 1 and A = B = -D. Now,

Taking x = -1 gives -20 = -8A - 20, so A = B = D = 0. The partial fraction decomposition of f(x) is thus