Module Six Honors Guided Notes

Module Six Honors Notes Name____________________
LESSON OVERVIEW
“You can’t split the denominator!”
Have you ever been told that when learning Algebra? Then it must be correct if you
were told that by your teacher, right?
Well, you can split the denominator. You will learn how in this honors lesson.
LESSON OBJECTIVES AND STANDARDS

Learning Objective(s):
1- Decompose fractions with linear factors into two or more fractions.
KEY TERMS
Partial fraction decomposition: the process of expressing a fraction that has multiple
factors in the denominator as the sum of multiple individual fractions.
Linear factor: an expression with a variable of degree one.
Partial Fraction Decomposition

Just as white light can be broken down into the full spectrum of colors, so too can a fraction be broken
down into multiple parts.
3 1
The expression + can be combined into a single fraction by finding a
x+ 4 x−3
common denominator:
The process of partial fraction decomposition is the reverse process of adding fractions. To
decompose fractions, we want to break down a fraction into multiple parts.
In order to decompose a fraction, the denominator must be fully factored.
Let’s explore two methods to decompose the fraction we just created above.
Method 1
4 x−5
( x−3 ) ( x + 4 )
We start by rewriting the fraction in two parts, with each part having a denominator equal to
one of the linear factors from the original denominator. We do not know the numerator of each
of the decomposed fractions, so we label them with the constants A and B.
Now we will create a system of equations to solve for A and B.
First, we find a common denominator and set the numerators equal to each other:
Next, we expand:
Now combine like terms:
For the left and right sides of the equation to be equal to each other, the following equations
must hold:
We can solve for A and B using substitution:
2
Finally, we substitute A and Binto the original expression that we set up to decompose the
4 x−5
fraction
( x−3 ) ( x + 4 )
:
Notice that the answer is the original expression we began with in the introduction to these
notes.
Method 2
Now that you have seen how to decompose partial fractions by using a system of equations, it’s
time to show you a “short-cut” method.
Once again, we begin by rewriting the fraction in two parts, with each part having a denominator
equal to one of the linear factors from the original denominator.
We continue by finding a common denominator and set the numerators equal to each other:
So far, the two methods have been identical, but now they diverge. To solve for each A and B, we
can “zero out” each of the A and B constant and solve for the other constant.
First, substitute in x=3 to zero out the A term:
Next, substitute in x=−4 to zero out the B term:
3
Without using a system of equations, we have found the values for A and B that give us our
decomposed fractions:
Practice
Decompose each rational expression into the sum or difference of two simpler expressions.
5 x +1
1.
( x+2 ) ( x−1 )
x+ 8
2.
( x−4 )( x +2 )
7x
3. 2
x −x−12
4
Long Division with Partial Fraction Decomposition
Each of the cases you have seen so far has had a denominator with a larger degree than the
numerator.
In cases where the numerator and the denominator have the same degree, or where the
numerator has a larger degree, you will need to perform long division to reduce the fraction
before you decompose into simpler fractions.
Let’s decompose this rational expression:
2
x
2
x −1
First, we must perform long division to simplify the fraction:
Now decompose the term that remains as a rational expression:
Substitute in x=−1 to solve for B:
Now substitute in x=1 to solve for A :
The fraction is decomposed to following sum or difference of two simpler fractions:
5
The final answer is:
Practice
Decompose the rational expression into the sum or difference of two simpler expressions.
3
x +1
2
x +2 x−8
You Try
Try these problems on your own and then watch the video to check your work.
Decompose each rational expression into the sum or difference of two simpler expressions.
x−1
1.
x ( x−2 )
x+ 4
2. 2
x +5 x−6
2
x +2
3. 2
x + x−2

Module Six Honors Guided Notes

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Module Six Honors Guided Notes

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Module Six Honors Guided Notes

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Module Six Honors Notes Name____________________

LESSON OBJECTIVES AND STANDARDS

Partial Fraction Decomposition

Now we will create a system of equations to solve for A and B.

Now combine like terms:

We can solve for A and B using substitution:

First, substitute in x=3 to zero out the A term:

Next, substitute in x=−4 to zero out the B term:

Let’s decompose this rational expression:

First, we must perform long division to simplify the fraction:

Now decompose the term that remains as a rational expression:

Substitute in x=−1 to solve for B:

Now substitute in x=1 to solve for A :

The fraction is decomposed to following sum or difference of two simpler fractions:

You might also like