Partial Fractions Help - Calc II Integration

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves integrating the function \(\int \frac{1}{s^{2}(s-1)^{2}} \, ds\) using partial fractions. The original poster is exploring the setup for partial fraction decomposition and is encountering difficulties with the coefficients.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to set up the partial fraction decomposition but questions the correctness of their coefficients after equating terms. Some participants suggest the need for an additional term in the decomposition, while others propose alternative methods such as trigonometric substitution.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively discussing the setup for the partial fractions and exploring different approaches. There is recognition of potential errors in the original setup, and some guidance has been offered regarding the inclusion of additional terms. However, no consensus has been reached on the best approach yet.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of the original poster's confusion regarding the number of variables needed for the decomposition, as well as the possibility of making errors in their calculations. The discussion reflects the challenges of integrating functions with repeated factors.

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Homework Statement


[tex]\int[/tex]1/(s[tex]^{2}[/tex](s-1)[tex]^{2}[/tex]) ds

Homework Equations


Partial Fractions


The Attempt at a Solution


= [tex]\frac{A}{s^{2}}[/tex]+[tex]\frac{B}{s-1}[/tex]+[tex]\frac{C}{(s-1)^{2}}[/tex]

Setting numerators equal to each other:
1 = A(s-1)(s-1)[tex]^{2}[/tex] + Bs[tex]^{2}[/tex](s-1)[tex]^{2}[/tex]+Cs[tex]^{2}[/tex](s-1)
1=(As-A)(s[tex]^{2}[/tex]-2s+1)+Bs[tex]^{2}[/tex](s[tex]^{2}[/tex]-2s+1)+Cs[tex]^{3}[/tex]+Cs[tex]^{2}[/tex]
1=As[tex]^{3}[/tex]-2As[tex]^{2}[/tex]+As-As[tex]^{2}[/tex]+2As-A+Bs[tex]^{4}[/tex]-2Bs[tex]^{3}[/tex]+Bs[tex]^{2}[/tex]+Cs[tex]^{3}[/tex]-Cs[tex]^{3}[/tex]+Cs[tex]^{2}[/tex]
1=Bs[tex]^{4}[/tex]+(A-2B+C)s[tex]^{3}[/tex]+(-3A+B-C)s[tex]^{2}[/tex]+3As-A

Using coefficients to solve for variables (here's where something is up!)
s[tex]^{4}[/tex]: 0=B
s[tex]^{3}[/tex]: 0=A-2B+C
s[tex]^{2}[/tex]: 0=-3A+B-C
s: 0=3A
#: 1=-A

They don't add up! Am I doing something wrong?
Thank you for everyone's time and help!
 
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Don't you need a D/s term as well? If you can't solve it you are missing a variable. (s+1)^2 is a repeated factor and you have two variables for it. Why not for s^2 as well?
 
Ohh okay! I'll give it a try! :)

EDIT: Adding a D/s term only seemed to make the situation worse. Unless I made a slight error, there is now no term A, B, C, or D that stands unattached to an "s" and thus there is no variable to equate to the constant.

Ideas??
 
Last edited:
I'm not sure if you really have to do it by partial fractions, but a simpler way to do this problem is by trigonometric substitution.
 
[tex]\frac{1}{s^2(s-1)^2}= \frac{A}{s}+ \frac{B}{s^2}+ \frac{C}{s-1}+ \frac{D}{(s-1)^2}[/tex]
[tex]1= As(s-1)^2+ B(s-1)^2+ Cs^2(s-1)+ Ds^2[/tex]
Taking s= 0, B= 1.
Taking s= 1, D= 1.
Taking s= -1, 1= -4A+ 4B- 2C+ D= -4A+ 4- 2C+ 1 so 4A+ 2C= 4.
Taking s= 2, 1= 2A+ B+ 4C+ 4D= 2A+ 1+ 4C+ 4 so 2A+ 4C= -3
 
Thank you so much, Hall of Ivy! I had a feeling I was doing way too much work. Now I understand :)
 

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