Partial Fraction Decomposition of x/((x+1)(x-4))

Published on October 27, 2024

Algebra

The partial fraction decomposition of the rational expression x/((x+1)(x-4)) is (1/5)/(x+1) + (4/5)/(x-4).

Question

partial fraction decomposition x/((x+1)(x-4))

Answer

Let’s break down the partial fraction decomposition of the rational expression .
1. Factor the Denominator
The denominator is already factored:
2. Set up the Partial Fractions
Since we have two distinct linear factors in the denominator, we set up the decomposition as follows:
where and are constants we need to determine.
3. Clear the Fractions
Multiply both sides of the equation by the common denominator, :
4. Solve for the Constants
We can solve for and by strategically substituting values for :
  • Let :
    This eliminates :
  • Let :
    This eliminates :
5. Write the Decomposition
Now that we have the values of and , we can write the partial fraction decomposition:
Therefore, the partial fraction decomposition of is .