7.

4 Integration by Partial Fractions

The method of partial fractions is used to integrate rational functions. That is, we want to compute

P( x )
Z
dx where P, Q are polynomials.
Q( x )

R( x )
First reduce1 the integrand to the form S( x ) + Q( x )
where °R < °Q.

Example Here we write the integrand as a polynomial plus a rational function x+7 2 whose denom-
inator has higher degreee than its numerator. Thankfully, this expression can be easily integrated
using logarithms.

x2 + 3 x ( x + 2) − 2x + 3 −2( x + 2) + 4 + 3 7
= = x+ = x−2+
x+2 x+2 x+2 x+2
x2 + 3 7 1
Z Z
=⇒ dx = x−2+ dx = x2 − 2x + 7 ln | x + 2| + c
x+2 x+2 2

What if °Q ≥ 2?

If the denominator Q( x ) is quadratic or has higher degree, we need another trick:

R( x )
Theorem. Suppose that °R < °Q. Then the rational function Q( x )
can be written as a sum of fractions of the
form

A Ax + B
( ax + b)m ( ax2+ bx + c)n

where A, B, a, b, c are constants and m, n are positive integers.

Expressions such as the above can all be integrated using either logarithms or trigonometric substi-
tutions.

Example With a little experimenting, you should be convinced that

3x2 + 2x + 3 3 2
3
= +
x +x x 1 + x2

It follows that

3x2 + 2x + 3
Z
dx = 3 ln | x | + 2 tan−1 x + c
x3 + x

The burning question is how to find the expressions in the Therorem. The approach depends on
the form of the denominator Q( x ).
1 By Long Division or some other Torture. . .

1
Case 1: Distinct Linear Factors
Suppose that our denominator can be factorized completely into distinct linear factors. That is
Q( x ) = ( x − a1 )( x − a2 ) · · · ( x − an )
where the values a1 , . . . , an are all different.2
Theorem. For such a Q, there exist constants A1 , . . . , An such that
n
R( x ) Ai A1 An
=∑ = +···+ (∗)
Q( x ) i =1
x − a i x − a 1 x − an
whence the integral can be easily computed term-by-term:
n n
R( x ) Ai
Z Z
dx = ∑ dx = ∑ Ai ln | x − ai | + c
Q( x ) i =1
x − ai i =1

We find the constants Ai by putting the right hand side of (∗) over the common denominator Q( x )
R( x ) R( x ) A1 An
= = +···+
Q( x ) ( x − a1 ) · · · ( x − a n ) x − a1 x − an
and comparing numerators.

Examples
1. According to the Theorem, there exist constants A, B such that
x+8 x+8 A B
= = +
x2 +x−2 ( x − 1)( x + 2) x−1 x+2
Summing the right hand side, we obtain
x+8 A ( x + 2) + B ( x − 1)
=
( x − 1)( x + 2) ( x − 1)( x + 2)
Since the denominators are equal, it follows that the numerators are equal:
x + 8 = A ( x + 2) + B ( x − 1)
This is a relationship between A, B which holds for all3 x: every value of x gives a valid rela-
tionship between A and B. Evaluating at x = 1 and x = −2 gives two very simple expressions:
x=1: 9 = 3A =⇒ A = 3
x = −2 : 6 = −3B =⇒ B = −2
Putting it all together, we have
x+8 3 2
Z Z
2
dx = − dx = 3 ln | x − 1| − 2 ln | x + 2| + c
x +x−2 x−1 x+2
| x − 1|3
= ln +c
| x + 2|2
2 We assume for clarity that the leading term of Q( x ) is x n (coefficient 1). If not, absorb it into the numerator!
3 You might worry that it doesn’t when x = 1 or x = −2 because of the denominator. The fact fact that polynomials are
continuous combined with x + 8 = A( x + 2) + B( x − 1) everywhere else guarantees that we have equality everywhere.

2
 2. We know that there exist constants A, B, C such that

x2 + 2 x2 + 2 A B C
3
= = + +
x −x x ( x − 1)( x + 1) x x−1 x+1

Combining the right hand side yields

x2 + 2 = A( x − 1)( x + 1) + Bx ( x + 1) + Cx ( x − 1)

Now evaluate at x = 0, ±1:

x=0: 2 = − A =⇒ A = −1
3
x=1: 3 = 2B =⇒ B =
2
3
x = −1 : 3 = 2C =⇒ C =
2
It follows that
x2 + 2 −2 3 3
Z Z
dx = + + dx
x3 − x x 2( x − 1) 2( x + 1)
3
= −2 ln | x | + (ln | x − 1| + ln| x + 1|) + c
2
3
| x 2 − 1| 2
= ln +c
x2

Case 2: Repeated Linear Factors

Suppose that when we factorize Q( x ) we obtain a repeated linear factor. That is, some term of the
form ( x − a)m where m ≥ 2. In a partial fractions decomposition, such a factor produces m seperate
contributions:
A1 A2 Am
+ +···+
x − a ( x − a) 2 ( x − a)m
each of which can be integrated normally. One way to remember this is to count the constants:
( x − a)m has degree m and must therefore correspond to m distinct terms.

Examples
x −2
1. has a repeated factor of x in the denominator. The single factor of x − 1 behaves exactly
x 2 ( x −1)
as in Case 1. We therefore have constants A, B, C such that
x−2 A B C
= + 2+
x 2 ( x − 1) x x x−1

Combining the right hand side and cancelling the denominators yields4

x − 2 = Ax ( x − 1) + B( x − 1) + Cx2 (†)
4 Be careful: think about what each term is missing compared to the common denominator.

3
 There are only two nice places at which to evaluate this expression:

x=0: − 2 = − B =⇒ B = 2
x=1: −1 = C

To obtain A we have choices. Either evaluate (†) at another value of x, or compare coefficients.
For example, it is easy to see that the coefficient of x2 on the right side of (†) is A + C. This is
clearly zero, since ther is no x2 term on the left. We might write this as

coeff( x2 ) : 0 = A + C =⇒ A = −C = 1

Putting it all together, we have

x−2 1 2 1 |x| 2
Z Z
dx = + − dx = ln − +c
x 2 ( x − 1) x x2 x−1 | x − 1 | x

x3 + 3x + 1
2. Suppose we want to integrate . We have two repeated factors, whence there
( x + 1)2 ( x − 2)2
exist constants A, B, C, D such that

x3 + 3x + 1 A B C D
2 2
= + 2
+ +
( x + 1) ( x − 2) x + 1 ( x + 1) x − 2 ( x − 2)2

Combining the right hand side and cancelling the denominators yields

x3 + 3x + 1 = A( x + 1)( x − 2)2 + B( x − 2)2 + C ( x + 1)2 ( x − 2) + D ( x + 1)2

We evaluate at the two nice places then compare some coefficients and evaluate at x = 0:

5
x=2: 15 = 9D =⇒ D =
3
1
x = −1 : − 3 = 9B =⇒ B = −
3
coeff( x3 ) : 1 = A+C
1
x=0: 1 = 4A + 4B − 2C + D =⇒ 2A − C =
3
4
The last two equations can be solved to obtain A = 9 and C = 95 . The final integral is then

x3 + 3x + 1 4 1 5 5
Z Z
dx = − + + dx
( x + 1)2 ( x − 2)2 9( x + 1) 3( x + 1)2 9( x − 2) 3( x − 2)2
4 1 5 5
= ln | x + 1| + + ln | x − 2| − +c
9 3( x + 1) 9 3( x − 2)
1 1 5
= ln | x + 1|4 | x − 2|5 + − +c
9 3( x + 1) 3( x − 2)

4
Case 3: Quadratic Factors

Suppose that the denominator Q( x ) contains an irreducible quadratic term: a term of the form5

ax2 + bx + c where b2 − 4ac < 0

Each such factor generates a partial fraction of the form

Ax + B
ax2 + bx + c

which can be integrated using logarithms and/or tangent substitutions.6

x2 − x + 2 x2 − x + 2
Example The rational function = contains the irreduciuble quadratic x2 + 4
x3 + 4x x ( x 2 + 4)
in its denominator. We therefore know that there exist constants A, B, C such that

x2 − x + 2 A Bx + C
3
= + 2
x + 4x x x +4
Combining the right hand side and equating numerators yields

x2 − x + 2 = A( x2 + 4) + ( Bx + C ) x

which can be solved (try it!) to obtain

1 1
A= , B= , C = −1
2 2
It follows that

x2 − x + 2 1 x−2 1 x 1
Z Z Z
dx = + dx = ln | x | + − 2 dx
x3 + 4x 2
2x 2( x + 4) 2 2
2( x + 4) x + 4
1 1 1 x
= ln | x | + ln( x2 + 4) − tan−1 + c
2 4 2 2
We had to be a little creative with the quadratic term in order to find an anti-derivative.

Case 4: Repeated Quadratic Factors (very hard!)

If Q( x ) contains a repeated factor ( ax2 + bx + c)m where ax2 + bx + c is irreducible and m ≥ 2, then
each such expression yields the m terms

A1 x + B1 A2 x + B2 Am x + Bm
+ +···+
2 2
ax + bx + c ( ax + bx + c) 2 ( ax2 + bx + c)m

Each term may be integrated similarly to Case 3: part by inspection, part by completing the square.
5 Thus ax2 + bx + c cannot be factored (over R) into linear terms.
6 Warning: These examples are often very involved. Master Cases 1 and 2 first!

5
 x3 + 2x2 + 4
(Partial) Example To integrate we first seek a partial fraction de-
( x2 + 2x + 5)2 ( x − 3)4 ( x − 2)2
composition:

x3 + 2x2 + 4 Ax + B Cx + D
= 2 +
( x2 + 2x + 5)2 ( x − 3)4 ( x − 2)2 x + 2x + 5 ( x2 + 2x + 5)2
E F G H
+ + 2
+ 3
+
x − 3 ( x − 3) ( x − 3) ( x − 3)4
I J
+ +
x − 2 ( x − 2)2

This is long and messy. The first two terms may be integrated by completing the square and substi-
tuting u = x + 1

x2 + 2x + 5 = ( x + 1)2 + 4 = u2 + 1

The integral of these terms will then be a combination of expressions such as

u
tan−1 , ln(u2 + 1), ( u 2 + 1 ) −1
2
If you’re interested in the solution, ask a computer to help: the mathematician in you should be
comfortable believing that it could be done!

Rationalizing
A clever substitution can sometimes convert an irrational expression into a rational one, to which the
partial fractions method may be applied.
For example, the substitution u3 = x − 7 (dx = 3u2 du) gives
Z √
3
x−7 3u3 24
Z Z
dx = 3
du = 3 − du
x+1 u +8 (u + 2)(u2 − 2u + 4)
u2 − 2u + 4 √ u−1
= 3u + ln 2
− 2 3 tan−1 √ + c (partial fractions in here)
( u + 2) 3
( x − 7)2/3 − 2( x − 7)1/3 + 4 √ −1 ( x − 7 )
1/3 − 1
= 3( x − 7)1/3 + ln − 2 3 tan √ +c
(( x − 7)1/3 + 2)2 3
√
A similar approach (substituting u = x − 2) rationalizes the integral

1 2 du
Z Z
√ dx =
( x − 2)( x − 2 + x − 2) u2 ( u+ 1)

Suggested problems
1. Evaluate the integrals:
8
Z
(a) dx
( x − 2)( x + 6)

6
 x
Z
(b) dx
( x − 6)( x + 2)2
2. Evaluate the integrals:

8 − x2
Z 2
(a) 2
dx
1 x ( x + 5x + 8)
1
Z
(b) dy
y + 3y2 + 1
4

3. Evaluate x2dx in two ways: using partial fractions and using a trigonometric substitution.7
R
−1
Reconcile your two answers.

7 Look up the integral of csc θ if you need to. . .