Integration by partial fractions

Sometimes it is necessary to integrate rational expressions. A rational

expression is one with polynomials in the numerator and denominator.
Examples of rational expressions include:

2
x

( x+2 )( x +3 )
2
x +1
 2
x −1
3
x
 2
and so on.
x + x−6

Notice that in each case, the numerator is not the derivative of the
denominator (which means substitution will not work). Therefore, to
integrate such functions, we first resolve them into partial fractions.

Review of types of partial fractions

Recall that there are 3 types of partial fractions:

1. Type 1 partial fractions – For expressions with linear factors in

the denominator
The general format of these partial fractions for any numerator, f(x) is
given as:
f (x) A B
= +
( x+ a ) ( a+b ) … x +a x+ b

2. Type 2 partial fractions – For expressions containing repeated

linear factors in the denominator
The general format of these partial fractions for any numerator, f(x) is
given as:
f (x ) A B C D
= + + +
(x +a) x +a (x +b) (x + a) (x +a)4
4 2 3

1
3. Type 3 partial fractions – For expressions containing irreducible
quadratic factors in the denominator
The general format of these partial fractions for any numerator, f(x) is
given as:
f (x) A Bx+C
= + 2
( x +k )(a x +bx +c ) x +k a x +bx +c
2

Conditions for resolving a rational expression into partial fractions

In order for a rational expression to be resolved into partial fractions;

 It must be a proper fraction (Numerator polynomial must be of a lower

order than the denominator), otherwise, long division must be used to
change it into a proper fraction.
 The denominator must be factorizable into one of the standard forms;
linear factors, repeated linear factors or irreducible quadratic factors.

Example 1 – partial fractions with linear factors in the denominator

Determine the following integrals:

5 x+ 2
1. ∫ 3 x 2+ x−4 dx

( )
3 2
3 x −2 x −16 x +20
2. ∫ ( x +2 ) ( x−2 )
dx

Solutions

5 x+ 2
1. Given: ∫ 3 x 2+ x−4 dx
Here, we have a proper fraction, so we just factor the denominator into
the linear factors as follows.
2
3 x + x −4=(3 x + 4)(x−1)
Therefore, the integral becomes;

2
 5 x+ 2 5 x +2
∫ 3 x 2+ x−4 dx=∫ (3 x +4 )( x−1) dx
Now, let’s resolve the rational expression into partial fractions:
5 x+ 2 A B
= +
(3 x +4)(x −1) 3 x+ 4 x−1
Equating numerators gives:
5 x+ 2= A ( x−1 ) + B(3 x+ 4)
When x=1; 5 ( 1 ) +2=B[3 ( 1 ) +4 ]
7=7 B
B=1
Expanding the RHS gives:
5 x+ 2= Ax−A +3 Bx +4 B
Equating coefficients of x 1;
5=A +3 B
5=A +3 ( 1 )
5−3= A
A=2
In terms of its partial fractions;
5 x +2 2 1
= +
3 x + x−4 3 x+ 4 x−1
2

Therefore;

∫ 5 x+ 2
2
3 x + x−4
dx=∫
2
(
+
1
3 x +4 x−1
dx )
2 1
¿∫ dx+∫ dx
3x+4 x−1
2 3 1
¿ ∫
3 3x+4
dx+∫
x−1
dx

2
¿ ln ( 3 x +4 ) +ln (x−1)+c
3

2. Given: ∫ ( 3 x 3−2 x 2−16 x +20

( x +2 ) ( x−2 )
dx)
Since the given fraction is improper, we need to use long division to
reduce the order of the numerator as follows;

3
 ( )
3 2 3 2
3 x −2 x −16 x +20 3 x −2 x −16 x +20 −4 x +12
= =3 x−2+
( x+2 )( x−2 ) 2
x −4
2
x −4

Now we need to resolve: ( −4x x+12

−4 )
2 into partial fractions:

−4 x +12 −4 x +12 A B
= = +
2
x −4 (x +2)(x−2) x +2 x−2

Equating numerators on both sides gives:

−4 x+12=A ( x−2 ) + B(x +2)

When x=2 ; −4 ( 2 ) +12=B(2+2)

4=4 B

B=1

When x=−2 ; −4 (−2 ) +12= A (−2−2)

20=−4 A

A=−5

In partial fraction form;

−4 x +12 −5 1
= +
( x +2)(x−2) x +2 x−2

The whole fraction is thus equal to:

3 2
3 x −2 x −16 x +20 5 1
=3 x−2− +
( x+2 )( x−2 ) x +2 x−2

Therefore;

∫ ( 3 x 3−2 x 2−16 x +20

( x +2 ) ( x−2 ) )
dx=∫ 3 x −2−
5
[+
1
x+2 x−2
dx ]
1 1
¿ ∫ 3 x dx −∫ 2 dx−5∫ dx +∫ dx
x +2 x−2

4
 2
3x
¿ −2 x−5 ln ( x+ 2 )+ ln ( x−2 ) +c
2

Exercise

( )
6 2
x −x−14
Evaluate ∫ 2
x −2 x−3
dx correct to 4 significant fingures. Answer: 0.8122
x= 4

Example 2 – Integration using Partial fractions with repeated linear

factors in the denominator
Evaluate correct to 4 decimal places:

( )
1 2
3 x + 16 x+15
∫ (x +3)
3
dx
−2

Solution

In this case; we observe that the given fraction is a proper one and the
denominator is already factored as a repeated linear factor. So we proceed
to partial fraction resolution.

2
3 x +16 x +15 A B C
= + +
(x +3)
3
x +3 (x +3) ( x +3)3
2

Equating numerators gives:

2 2
3 x +16 x +15=A (x +3) + B( x+3)+C

When x=−3 3(−3)2 +16 (−3 ) +15=C

C=−6

Expanding the RHS gives:

2 2
3 x +16 x +15=A x +6 Ax+ 9 A +Bx +3 B+ C

Equating coefficients of x 2 ; A=3

Equating coefficients of x 1 ; 16=6 A + B

5
 B=−2

In partial fraction form:

2
3 x +16 x +15 3 2 6
= − −
(x +3)
3
x +3 ( x +3 ) ( x +3)3
2

( ) [ ]
1 2 1
3 x + 16 x+15 3 2 6
∫ (x +3)
3
dx=∫
x +3
− −
( x +3 ) (x +3)3
2
dx
−2 −2

Let’s consider the first term first:

1
3
∫ x+3
1
dx=[ 3 ln (x+3) ]−2 =3 ln ( 1+ 3 )−3 ln (−2+3 )=3 ln 4−3 ln 1=4.1589
−2

For the second term, we make a substitution u=x+3 so that dx=du

[ ] [ ]
1 1 1 1 1
2 2 2u−1 −2
∫ ( x+3 )2 dx=∫ u2 du=∫ 2 u−2 du=¿ −1 =
u
¿
−2 −2 −2 −2 −2

[ ]
1
2
¿−
x+3 −2

[
¿−
2
−
2
1+ 3 −2+3
=1.5
]
For the third term again, we make a substitution, u=x+3 so that dx=du

[ ] [ ]
1 1 1 1 1
6 6 6u−2 1
∫ (x +3)3 ∫ u3 ∫
dx= du= 6 u
−3
du=
−2
=−3
u
2
−2 −2 −2 −2 −2

Replacing the original function; u=x+3 gives;

[ ]
1
1
¿−3 2
(x +3) −2

¿−3
[ 1
2
−
1
(1+3) (−2+3)
2
]
6
 ¿−3 [ 1−0.0625 ]

2.8125

Therefore;

[ ]
1
3 2 6
∫ − −
x+ 3 ( x +3 )2 (x +3)3
dx =4.1589−1.5−2.8125
−2

¿−0.1536

Exercise

2
5 x −2 x−19
Express 2
¿ into partial fractions and hence determine
( x +3)9 x−1 ¿

( )
2
5 x −2 x−19
∫ ( x +3 ) (x−1)2
dx

Example 3 – integration using partial fractions with irreducible

quadratics in the denominator

2
x
Resolve 2 into partial fractions and hence determine
( x−2)(x +1)
2
x
∫ ( x −2)(x 2
+1)
dx

Solution

We first resolve the given expression into partial fractions as follows:

2
x A Bx+C
2
= + 2
( x−2)(x +1) x−2 x +1

Equating numerators;

x 2= A ( x 2+ 1 ) +(Bx+ C)(x−2)

When x=2; 4=5 A ∴ A=4 /5

Expanding the RHS gives:

7
 2 2 2
x = A x + A +B x −2 Bx+Cx−2 C

Equating coefficients of x 2 1= A+ B

4
1= + B
5

1
B=
5

Equating coefficients of x : 0=−2 B+C

0=−2 ( 15 )+C
−2
0= +C
5

2
C=
5

In partial fraction form;

4 1 2
2 x+
x 5 5 5
= + 2
( x−2)(x +1) x−2 x +1
2

4 1 2
x
5 5 5
¿ + 2 + 2
x−2 x + 1 x +1

Therefore;

( )
4 1 2
2 x
x 5 5 5
∫ ( x −2)(x 2 +1) dx=∫ + 2 + 2
x−2 x +1 x +1
dx

4 1 1 x 2 1
¿ ∫
5 x−2
dx + ∫ 2 dx + ∫ 2 dx
5 x +1 5 x +1

4 1 1 2
¿ ln ( x−2 ) + × ln ( x +1 ) + tan x+ C
2 −1
5 5 2 5

8
 4 1 2 −1
¿ ln ( x−2 ) + ln ( x +1 ) + tan x+C
2
5 10 5

Exercise

Use partial fractions to determine:

6 x−5
∫ ( x −4)(x 2 +3) dx