Integration by Partial Fractions

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the integration of a rational function using partial fractions, specifically the expression (3x^2 + 10x + 13) / [(x-1)(x^2 + 4x + 8)]. Participants are exploring methods to decompose the fraction and integrate it.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the setup for partial fraction decomposition, with some suggesting specific forms for A, B, and C. There are attempts to equate coefficients from both sides of the equation. Questions arise about the correctness of derived coefficients and the integration process.

Discussion Status

Several participants have provided feedback on the attempts made, with some suggesting corrections to the coefficients derived. There is an ongoing exploration of the integration process, with various interpretations of the results being discussed. No consensus has been reached on the final form of the solution.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working within the constraints of homework rules, which may limit the amount of direct assistance they can provide. There are indications of potential arithmetic mistakes in the calculations, and some participants express uncertainty about the complexity of the coefficients obtained.

Illusionist
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Homework Statement



[(3x^2)+10x+13]/[(x-1)([x^2]+4x+8)]


Homework Equations



I think solving this question should include partial fractions.

The Attempt at a Solution



I've made a few different attempts at this question but find myself at a dead end every time.
One attempt was expanding the denominator (giving me [x^3]+3[x^2]+4x-8. I then let this equal v, hence dv/du= 3(u^2)+6u+4.
From this I got my original equation to look like this: [((3x^2)+6x+4)+(4x+9)]/[(x^3)+3(x^2)+4x-8] hence:

1/v .dv + (4x+9)]/[(x^3)+3(x^2)+4x-8] . dx

I can seem to differentiate the second part, but even worse I think this approach is wrong.

If anyone has any advice or help with this sort of question please share, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks guys.
 
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Do you mean:
[tex]\int \frac{3x^2+10x+13}{(x-1)x^2+4x+8}dx[/tex]?
 
I think solving this question should include partial fractions
Right.
remember how to do partial fraction
[tex]\frac{3x^2+10x+13}{(x-1)(x^2+4x+8)} = \frac{A}{x-1}+\frac{Bx+C}{x^2+4x+8}[/tex]
Find A, B and C and try to solve then we can continue.
 
Matness is correct. You will have that linear term and the quadratic term.
Get your common denominator and cancell with the left original equation.
And in order to find A & B, the two polynomials inorder to be equal must have equal coefficients for each power of the polynomial..I assume you can take it from here?
 
matness said:
Right.
remember how to do partial fraction
[tex]\frac{3x^2+10x+13}{(x-1)(x^2+4x+8)} = \frac{A}{x-1}+\frac{Bx+C}{x^2+4x+8}[/tex]
Find A, B and C and try to solve then we can continue.

Alright here is what I have come up with:

(3x^2 + 10x + 13) = A(x^2 + 4x + 8) + (Bx + C)(x-1)
(3x^2 + 10x + 13) = A(x^2) + 4xA + 8A + B(x^2) - Bx + Cx - C

Hence - (x^2): 3 = A + B -------> B = 3 - A
(x^1): 10 = 4A - B + C
(x^0): 13 = 8A - C -------> C = 13 - 8A

Sub'ing back in I get:
10 = 4A - (3-A) + (13-8A)
10 = -3A + 10
A= 0
Therefore B=3-0=3 and C = 13-0=13

Hence now we are looking for the integral of (3x + 13)/(x^2 + 4x + 8)

Now this is where I'm running into problems, here's what I've done:
let v= x^2 + 4x + 8 hence dv/du= 2x+4

Hence 2/3 ( [2x + (39/x)] / v ) . du = 2/3 ( [ 2x + 4/ v ] + 9 ( 2^2 + (u+2)^2 ) ) . du

Which after integration I ended up with (2/3) log(v) + 3arctan ([x+2]/2) + C.

This isn't the answer I'm looking for and not sure where I went wrong. Sorry about the long working guys. Again help would be really great and thanks for the responses already guys.
 
I think your solution is nice except one point
13 = 8A - C -------> C = 13 - 8A
If you correct as C=8A-13
You possibly find what you expectd
And thank you for showing your work
That is what we want to see here usually

edit: you have actually some other arithmetical mistakes in the second part
Anyway forget them and try to solve with your new coefficients
 
OK yeah C = 8A - 13 I recalculated:
10= 4Ax - (3 - A)x + x(8A-13)
10= 3Ax 16x
A = (16/13) + (10/13)x

This value of x gave me the following for B and C:
B = 3 - [(16/13) + (10/13)x] = (23/13) - (10/13)x

C = 8[(16/13) + (10/13)x] - 13
C = (80/13)x - (41/13)

Now I still think something is horribly wrong because these sort of solutions for A, B and C are very ugly and makes thinks terrible hard and ugly.
 
where did you find x's?

I think we were agree that
-------------
A+B=3------>B=3-A
4A - B + C =10
8A - C =13--->C=8A-13
----------------

4A-(3-A)+8A-13=10 ---> 13A=26 -->A=2, B=1, C=3

Now try to integrate but not hurry in order to obtain a correct result
 

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