About Partial Fraction Decomposition Quadratic Factors:

We already know that we may combine two or more rational expressions into one single rational expression. In some cases, we will need to reverse this process and break our single rational expression up into the sum of two or more rational expressions. This process is known as partial fraction decomposition.


Test Objectives
  • Demonstrate the ability to perform long division with polynomials
  • Demonstrate the ability to factor a polynomial
  • Demonstrate the ability to find the partial fraction decomposition with quadratic factors
  • Demonstrate the ability to find the partial fraction decomposition with repeated quadratic factors
Partial Fraction Decomposition Quadratic Factors Practice Test:

#1:

Instructions: Find the partial fraction decomposition of each.

$$a)\hspace{.2em}\frac{-3x^3 + 8x - 14x^2 - 63}{x^4 - x^2 + 2x^3 + 4x - 6}$$

$$b)\hspace{.2em}\frac{5x^2 - 25 + 3x}{x^3 - 5x}$$


#2:

Instructions: Find the partial fraction decomposition of each.

$$a)\hspace{.2em}\frac{-x^2 - 3 - 2x}{x^3 + 5x - x^2 - 5}$$

$$b)\hspace{.2em}\frac{8x^2 + 23 + 3x}{x^3 + 4x - 3x^2 - 12}$$


#3:

Instructions: Find the partial fraction decomposition of each.

$$a)\hspace{.2em}\frac{-x^3 - x - 3x^2 - 1}{x^3 + 3x + 4x^2 + 12}$$

$$b)\hspace{.2em}\frac{x^3 + 3x + x^2 + 8}{x^3 + 4x - 4x^2 - 16}$$


#4:

Instructions: Find the partial fraction decomposition of each.

$$a)\hspace{.2em}\frac{3x^4 - 19x^2 + 28 + 2x^3 - 2x}{(2x - 1)(x^2 - 3)^2}$$

$$b)\hspace{.2em}\frac{-7x^4 - 14x^2 - 7 + x^3 + 4x}{x(x^2 + 1)^2}$$


#5:

Instructions: Find the partial fraction decomposition of each.

$$a)\hspace{.2em}\frac{-3x^2}{(x^2 + 1)^2}$$

$$b)\hspace{.2em}\frac{-3x^4 + 3x^3 + 3x}{(x + 4)(x^2 + 2)^2}$$


Written Solutions:

#1:

Solutions:

$$a)\hspace{.2em}\frac{-6}{x - 1}+ \frac{3}{x + 3}+ \frac{7}{x^2 + 2}$$

$$b)\hspace{.2em}\frac{5}{x}+ \frac{3}{x^2 - 5}$$


#2:

Solutions:

$$a)\hspace{.2em}\frac{-1}{x - 1}- \frac{2}{x^2 + 5}$$

$$b)\hspace{.2em}\frac{8}{x - 3}+ \frac{3}{x^2 + 4}$$


#3:

Solutions:

$$a)\hspace{.2em}-1 + \frac{1}{x + 4}+ \frac{2}{x^2 + 3}$$

$$b)\hspace{.2em}1 + \frac{5}{x - 4}- \frac{1}{x^2 + 4}$$


#4:

Solutions:

$$a)\hspace{.2em}\frac{3}{2x - 1}+ \frac{1}{x^2 - 3}+ \frac{2}{(x^2 - 3)^2}$$

$$b)\hspace{.2em}\frac{-7}{x}+ \frac{1}{x^2 + 1}+ \frac{3}{(x^2 + 1)^2}$$


#5:

Solutions:

$$a)\hspace{.2em}\frac{-3}{x^2 + 1}+ \frac{3}{(x^2 + 1)^2}$$

$$b)\hspace{.2em}\frac{-3}{x + 4}+ \frac{3}{x^2 + 2}- \frac{3}{(x^2 + 2)^2}$$