Partial Fractions

Compiled by: Nyasha P. Tarakino (Trockers)

+263772978155/+263717267175

ntarakino@gmail.com

05 MARCH 2020

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 1
 SYLLABUS (6042) REQUIREMENTS

 Expressing rational polynomials in partial fractions

(including improper fractions)







Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 2
 Rational Fractions
Definition
It is a fraction of which both numerator and denominator are rational numbers or are
polynomials
Types of Rational fractions

Proper Fraction
o A fraction where the numerator (top number) is less than the denominator (the bottom
number
o The degree of the polynomial, say , is the highest power occurring in the polynomial
e.g. the degree is ;
the degree is and
the degree is .
o A rational fraction is proper when the numerator has a degree which is at least one less
than that of the denominator e.g.

; ; ; ; etc

Improper Fraction
o A fraction where the numerator (top number) is greater than the denominator (the
bottom number.
o A rational fraction is proper when the numerator has a degree which is greater than that
of the denominator e.g.

; ; ; etc

Changing improper fractions to proper fractions

Two methods can be employed to make fractions proper ones i.e. (i) Division algorithm

(ii) Algebraic Manipulation

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 3
Example

Make the expression a proper algebraic expression

Suggested Solution

Method 1: Algebraic Manipulation Algorithm

Method 2: Division Algorithm

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 4
 Partial Fractions
Definition
o A technique for rewriting a rational function (i.e. a polynomial divided by another
polynomial) as a sum of simpler rational functions.
o To express a single rational fraction into the sum of two or more single rational fractions is
called Partial fraction resolution.

Types of Partial Fractions

There are basically types of partial fractions namely: Linear, Repeated linear and Quadratic
factors

Type Denominator Expression Form of Partial Fraction

Containing

1 Linear Factors

2 Repeated Linear Factors

3 Quadratic Factors

Applications of Partial Fractions

Partial fractions are also used to solve problems involving: The Method of differences
Integration
Binomial expansion etc

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 5
Steps involved in resolving partial fractions

1. Make sure that the degree of the numerator is less than the degree of the denominator.
2. Factor the denominator as fully as possible.
3. Write the original rational function as a sum of fractions. Each of the terms in the sum
gets one of the original factors as its denominator. The numerator of each new fraction is
an arbitrary polynomial of degree one less than the degree of the denominator.
4. Use algebra to solve for the coefficients in the numerators of the new fractions.

What to do if the degree of the numerator is too large

Before we apply partial fractions, we have to apply the polynomial equivalent of long
division, which works very much like long division for numbers.

Example of improper fractions

Illustration 1

Algebraic manipulation algorithm

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 6
NB: Algebraic manipulation is best when both the numerator and the

denominator are of the same degree.

Illustration 2

Division algorithm - Polynomial long division

Divisor Quotient

Remainder

A. Linear Factors

o The denominators contain linear factors

o These are of the form

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 7
 o This type of partial fractions can be resolved as

Worked Problems

Example 1

Express in partial fractions

Suggested Solution

Let

When When

Now

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 8
Example 2

Convert into the sum of three partial fractions

Suggested Solution

Let

When When

When

Now

Example 3

Resolve into partial fractions

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 9
Suggested Solution

NB: Check Illustration 2 above

Aside

Let

When When

Now

Follow Up Questions

Question 1

Resolve into partial fractions Answer:

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 10
Question 2

Convert into partial fractions Answer:

Question 3

Express in partial fractions Answer:

Question 4

Resolve into partial fractions Answer:

Question 5

Convert into the sum of two partial fractions Answer:

Question 6

Express in partial fractions Answer:

Question 7

Resolve into partial fractions Answer:

Question 8

Convert into partial fractions Answer:

Question 9

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 11
Express in partial fractions Answer:

Question 10

Express in partial fractions Answer:

Question 11

Express in partial fractions Answer:

Question12

Resolve into partial fractions Answer:

Question 13

Express in partial fractions Answer:

Question 14

Resolve into partial fractions Answer:

Question 15

Express in partial fractions Answer:

Question 16

Resolve into partial fractions Answer:

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 12
B. Repeated Linear Factors

o The denominators contain repeated linear factors

o These are of the form

o This type of partial fractions can be resolved as

Worked Problems

Example 1

Express in partial fractions

Suggested Solution

Let

When When

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 13
Comparing coefficients of

Now

Example 2

Convert into the sum of three partial fractions

Suggested Solution

Let

When When

Comparing coefficients of

Now

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 14
Example 3

Resolve into partial fractions

Suggested Solution

is an improper fractions

Aside

Let

When When

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 15
Comparing coefficients of

Now

Follow Up Questions

Question 1

Resolve into partial fractions Answer:

Question 2

Convert into partial fractions Answer:

Question 3

Express in partial fractions Answer:

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 16
Question 4

Resolve into partial fractions Answer:

Question 5

Convert into the sum of two partial fractions Answer:

Question 6

Express in partial fractions Answer:

Question 7

Resolve into partial fractions Answer:

Question 8

Convert into partial fractions Answer:

Question 9

Express in partial fractions Answer:

Question 10

Express in partial fractions Answer:

C. Quadratic Factors

o The denominators contain quadratic factors which cannot be factorised

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 17
 o These are of the form

o This type of partial fractions can be resolved as

Worked Problems

Example 1

Express in partial fractions

Suggested Solution

Let

When When

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 18
Comparing coefficients of

Now

Example 2

Convert into partial fractions

Suggested Solution

Let

When When

Comparing coefficients of

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 19
Now

Example 3

Resolve into partial fractions

Suggested Solution

is an improper fractions

Aside

Let

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 20
When When

Comparing coefficients of

Now

Follow Up Questions

Question 1

Resolve into partial fractions Answer:

Question 2

Convert into partial fractions Answer:

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 21
Question 3

Express in partial fractions Answer:

Question 4

Resolve into partial fractions Answer:

Question 5

Convert to partial fractions Answer:

Question 6

Express in partial fractions Answer:

Question 7

Resolve into partial fractions Answer:

Question 8

Convert into partial fractions Answer:

Question 9

Express in partial fractions Answer:

Question 10

Express in partial fractions Answer:

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 22
PAST EXAMINATION QUESTION

UCLES PAPER 1 JUNE 1998

a) Express in partial fractions. [2]

Hence find

ZIMSEC JUNE 2004 PAPER 1

Express in the form where and are numerical

constants to be found. [3]

Hence show that

ZIMSEC NOVEMBER 2004 PAPER 1

Express in partial fractions and hence show that

ZIMSEC JUNE 2006 PAPER 1

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 23
Express in partial fractions. [4]

ZIMSEC JUNE 2008 PAPER 1

a) Express in the form . [4]

b) Hence evaluate

ZIMSEC NOVEMBER 2008 PAPER 1

Express in partial fractions. [2]

(i) By putting , or otherwise, obtain an expression for

in the form , where and are integers. [3]

(ii) Show that

ZIMSEC JUNE 2009 PAPER 1

a) Express in partial fractions. [4]

b) Evaluate exactly

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 24
c) Find the coefficients of and in the expansion of . [5]

ZIMSEC NOVEMBER 2009 PAPER 1

Express in partial fractions.

[5]

ZIMSEC JUNE 2010 PAPER 1

Express in partial fractions. [4]

ZIMSEC NOVEMBER 2010 PAPER 1

Show that . [2]

i) Express in the partial fractions [4]

ii) Hence evaluate

giving your answer correct to three significant figures. [4]

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 25
ZIMSEC NOVEMBER 2011 PAPER 1

a) Express the function in partial fractions. [3]

b) Hence evaluate the integral of

leaving your answer in exact form. [4]

ZIMSEC JUNE 2012 PAPER 1

Express in partial fractions. [5]

ZIMSEC JUNE 2013 PAPER 1

(i) Express in partial fractions. [3]

(ii) By using a series expansion up to and including the term in show that

can be reduced to . [4]

ZIMSEC JUNE 2013 PAPER 2

Show that

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 26
ZIMSEC NOVEMBER 2014 PAPER 1

Express in partial fractions. [6]

ZIMSEC NOVEMBER 2015 PAPER 1

Express in partial fractions. [5]

ZIMSEC NOVEMBER 2016 PAPER 1

(i) Express in partial fractions. [2]

(ii) Hence from (i) find

giving your answer in terms of a single logarithm. [4]

ZIMSEC JUNE 2017 PAPER 1

The function .

(a) Express in the form , where and are constants and is

a function of . [4]
(b) Hence find the exact value of

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 27
ZIMSEC NOVEMBER 2017 PAPER 1

Express in partial fractions. [5]

ZIMSEC NOVEMBER 2017 PAPER 2

Find the exact value of

ZIMSEC JUNE 2018 PAPER 1

Express in partial fractions. [6]

ZIMSEC NOVEMBER 2018 PAPER 1

The function .

(c) Express in partial fractions. [5]

(d) Hence or otherwise evaluate

giving your answer as an exact single term. [5]

ZIMSEC NOVEMBER 2018 PAPER 2

a) Express in the form . [5]

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 28
b) Hence evaluate

correct to 3 decimal places. [4]

ZIMSEC JUNE 2019 PAPER 1

The function

(a) Express in the form where, and are constants. [5]

(b) Hence evaluate

ZIMSEC NOVEMBER 2019 PAPER 1

(a) Express in partial fractions. [5]

(b) Hence find the exact value of

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 29
ASANTE SANA

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 30
*******THERE IS A LIGHT AT THE END OF EVERY TUNNEL *******

CONSTRUCTIVE COMMENTS ON THE FORM

OF THE PRESENTATION, INCLUDING ANY
OMISSIONS OR ERRORS, ARE WELCOME.

***ENJOY***

Nyasha P. Tarakino (Trockers)

+263772978155/+263717267175

ntarakino@gmail.com

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

Page 31