How to Solve Partial Fractions Expansion?

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the partial fractions expansion of the function G(s) = 1/((s+1)(s^2+4)). Participants are exploring various forms of partial fraction decomposition and the associated algebraic equations that arise from their attempts.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to expand the function into a specific form involving complex coefficients and derives a set of equations. Some participants suggest alternative forms of expansion and question the complexity of the resulting equations. Others provide hints about simplifying the equations using properties of complex conjugates.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, offering hints and alternative approaches. There is a recognition of the challenges posed by the equations derived from the initial expansion, and some guidance has been provided to simplify the problem. Multiple interpretations of the expansion method are being explored without a clear consensus on the best approach yet.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note preferences for notation and express informal sentiments about the use of complex numbers in the context of the problem. There is an acknowledgment of the complexity of the equations involved, which may hinder progress.

jegues
Messages
1,085
Reaction score
3

Homework Statement



Find the partial fractions expansion in the following form,

G(s) = \frac{1}{(s+1)(s^{2}+4)} = \frac{A}{s+1} + \frac{B}{s+j2} + \frac{B^{*}}{s-j2}

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I expanded things out and found the following,

1 = A(s^{2} + 4) + B(s^{2} + (1-j2)s -j2) + B^{*}(s^{2} + (1+j2)s + j2)

From this I get the following equations,

A + B + B^{*} = 0

B(1-j2) + B^{*}(1+j2) = 0

4A - Bj2 + B^{*}j2 = 1

This doesn't seem like a pleasant set of equations to solve.

I did another partial fractions expansion like so,


G(s) = \frac{1}{(s+1)(s^{2}+4)} = \frac{D}{s+1} + \frac{Es + F}{s^{2}+4}

and found,

D = \frac{1}{5}, E = - \frac{1}{5}, F = \frac{1}{5}

but this doesn't give me the form I need.

Any ideas? Any convenient ways to solve this?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Hint: if ##B^*## is the complex conjugate of ##B##, then ##B+B^* = 2\text{Re}(B)## and ##B - B^* = 2i\text{Im}(B)##. You can use these facts to simplify the unpleasant equations you obtained.
 
solve by inspection

$$\frac{1}{(s+1)(s^{2}+4)} =\frac{1}{(s+1)((-1)^{2}+4)}+\frac{1}{(2j+1)(2j+2j)(s-2j)}$$
$$+\frac{1}{(-2j+1)(s+2j)(-2j-2j)}= \frac{A}{s+1} + \frac{B}{s+2j} + \frac{B^{*}}{s-2j}$$

in general

$$\prod_k \frac{1}{x-a_k}=\sum_l \frac{1}{x-a_l}\prod_{k \ne l} \frac{1}{a_l-a_k}$$
 
Last edited by a moderator:
jbunniii said:
Hint: if ##B^*## is the complex conjugate of ##B##, then ##B+B^* = 2\text{Re}(B)## and ##B - B^* = 2i\text{Im}(B)##. You can use these facts to simplify the unpleasant equations you obtained.
or in Engineering terms where usually ##\ j=\sqrt{-1}\ ##, you have

##\ B - B^* = 2j\text{ Im}(B) \ ##
 
Sorry, I just couldn't bring myself to type ##j##. :-p
 
jbunniii said:
Sorry, I just couldn't bring myself to type ##j##. :-p
I know what you mean. Also, when I saw j2 in the first post, I first thought he meant j2. I like 2j better than j2, and 2i better than 2j.
 
jegues said:

Homework Statement



Find the partial fractions expansion in the following form,

G(s) = \frac{1}{(s+1)(s^{2}+4)} = \frac{A}{s+1} + \frac{B}{s+j2} + \frac{B^{*}}{s-j2}

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I expanded things out and found the following,

1 = A(s^{2} + 4) + B(s^{2} + (1-j2)s -j2) + B^{*}(s^{2} + (1+j2)s + j2)

From this I get the following equations,

A + B + B^{*} = 0

B(1-j2) + B^{*}(1+j2) = 0

4A - Bj2 + B^{*}j2 = 1

This doesn't seem like a pleasant set of equations to solve.

I did another partial fractions expansion like so,


G(s) = \frac{1}{(s+1)(s^{2}+4)} = \frac{D}{s+1} + \frac{Es + F}{s^{2}+4}

and found,

D = \frac{1}{5}, E = - \frac{1}{5}, F = \frac{1}{5}

but this doesn't give me the form I need.

Any ideas? Any convenient ways to solve this?

It is probably easier to first expand as
\frac{1}{(s+1)(s^2+4)} = \frac{A}{s+1} + \frac{Bs+C}{s^2+4}
then expand
\frac{1}{s^2+4} = \frac{E}{s+2i} + \frac{F}{s-2i}
BTW: in TeX (or LaTeX) you do not need to write 's^{2}'; just plain 's^2' will do. You only need the '{.}' if the super-script (or sub-script) is more than one term. (Even a multi-letter single command can do without the '{.}'; for example, look at ##s^\alpha##, which was entered as s^\alpha.)
 
jegues said:

Homework Statement



Find the partial fractions expansion in the following form,

G(s) = \frac{1}{(s+1)(s^{2}+4)} = \frac{A}{s+1} + \frac{B}{s+j2} + \frac{B^{*}}{s-j2}

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I expanded things out and found the following,

1 = A(s^{2} + 4) + B(s^{2} + (1-j2)s -j2) + B^{*}(s^{2} + (1+j2)s + j2)

From this I get the following equations,

A + B + B^{*} = 0

B(1-j2) + B^{*}(1+j2) = 0

4A - Bj2 + B^{*}j2 = 1

This doesn't seem like a pleasant set of equations to solve.

I did another partial fractions expansion like so,


G(s) = \frac{1}{(s+1)(s^{2}+4)} = \frac{D}{s+1} + \frac{Es + F}{s^{2}+4}

and found,

D = \frac{1}{5}, E = - \frac{1}{5}, F = \frac{1}{5}

but this doesn't give me the form I need.

Any ideas? Any convenient ways to solve this?

It is probably easier to first expand as
\frac{1}{(s+1)(s^2+4)} = \frac{A}{s+1} + \frac{Bs+C}{s^2+4}
then expand
\frac{1}{s^2+4} = \frac{E}{s+2i} + \frac{F}{s-2i}
BTW: in TeX (or LaTeX) you do not need to write 's^{2}'; just plain 's^2' will do. You only need the '{.}' if the super-script (or sub-script) is more than one term. (Even a multi-letter single command can do without the '{.}'; for example, look at ##s^\alpha##, which was entered as s^\alpha.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
1K
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
1K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K