Enter a problem...
Precalculus Examples
Step 1
Step 1.1
Factor the fraction.
Step 1.1.1
Factor out the greatest common factor from each group.
Step 1.1.1.1
Group the first two terms and the last two terms.
Step 1.1.1.2
Factor out the greatest common factor (GCF) from each group.
Step 1.1.2
Factor the polynomial by factoring out the greatest common factor, .
Step 1.1.3
Rewrite as .
Step 1.1.4
Factor.
Step 1.1.4.1
Since both terms are perfect squares, factor using the difference of squares formula, where and .
Step 1.1.4.2
Remove unnecessary parentheses.
Step 1.2
For each factor in the denominator, create a new fraction using the factor as the denominator, and an unknown value as the numerator. Since the factor in the denominator is linear, put a single variable in its place .
Step 1.3
For each factor in the denominator, create a new fraction using the factor as the denominator, and an unknown value as the numerator. Since the factor in the denominator is linear, put a single variable in its place .
Step 1.4
For each factor in the denominator, create a new fraction using the factor as the denominator, and an unknown value as the numerator. Since the factor in the denominator is linear, put a single variable in its place .
Step 1.5
Multiply each fraction in the equation by the denominator of the original expression. In this case, the denominator is .
Step 1.6
Cancel the common factor of .
Step 1.6.1
Cancel the common factor.
Step 1.6.2
Rewrite the expression.
Step 1.7
Cancel the common factor of .
Step 1.7.1
Cancel the common factor.
Step 1.7.2
Rewrite the expression.
Step 1.8
Cancel the common factor of .
Step 1.8.1
Cancel the common factor.
Step 1.8.2
Divide by .
Step 1.9
Simplify each term.
Step 1.9.1
Cancel the common factor of .
Step 1.9.1.1
Cancel the common factor.
Step 1.9.1.2
Divide by .
Step 1.9.2
Apply the distributive property.
Step 1.9.3
Move to the left of .
Step 1.9.4
Expand using the FOIL Method.
Step 1.9.4.1
Apply the distributive property.
Step 1.9.4.2
Apply the distributive property.
Step 1.9.4.3
Apply the distributive property.
Step 1.9.5
Combine the opposite terms in .
Step 1.9.5.1
Reorder the factors in the terms and .
Step 1.9.5.2
Add and .
Step 1.9.5.3
Add and .
Step 1.9.6
Simplify each term.
Step 1.9.6.1
Multiply by by adding the exponents.
Step 1.9.6.1.1
Move .
Step 1.9.6.1.2
Multiply by .
Step 1.9.6.2
Multiply by .
Step 1.9.7
Cancel the common factor of .
Step 1.9.7.1
Cancel the common factor.
Step 1.9.7.2
Divide by .
Step 1.9.8
Apply the distributive property.
Step 1.9.9
Move to the left of .
Step 1.9.10
Expand using the FOIL Method.
Step 1.9.10.1
Apply the distributive property.
Step 1.9.10.2
Apply the distributive property.
Step 1.9.10.3
Apply the distributive property.
Step 1.9.11
Simplify and combine like terms.
Step 1.9.11.1
Simplify each term.
Step 1.9.11.1.1
Multiply by by adding the exponents.
Step 1.9.11.1.1.1
Move .
Step 1.9.11.1.1.2
Multiply by .
Step 1.9.11.1.2
Move to the left of .
Step 1.9.11.1.3
Multiply by .
Step 1.9.11.2
Subtract from .
Step 1.9.12
Cancel the common factor of .
Step 1.9.12.1
Cancel the common factor.
Step 1.9.12.2
Divide by .
Step 1.9.13
Apply the distributive property.
Step 1.9.14
Move to the left of .
Step 1.9.15
Expand using the FOIL Method.
Step 1.9.15.1
Apply the distributive property.
Step 1.9.15.2
Apply the distributive property.
Step 1.9.15.3
Apply the distributive property.
Step 1.9.16
Simplify and combine like terms.
Step 1.9.16.1
Simplify each term.
Step 1.9.16.1.1
Multiply by by adding the exponents.
Step 1.9.16.1.1.1
Move .
Step 1.9.16.1.1.2
Multiply by .
Step 1.9.16.1.2
Move to the left of .
Step 1.9.16.1.3
Multiply by .
Step 1.9.16.2
Subtract from .
Step 1.10
Simplify the expression.
Step 1.10.1
Move .
Step 1.10.2
Move .
Step 1.10.3
Move .
Step 1.10.4
Move .
Step 2
Step 2.1
Create an equation for the partial fraction variables by equating the coefficients of from each side of the equation. For the equation to be equal, the equivalent coefficients on each side of the equation must be equal.
Step 2.2
Create an equation for the partial fraction variables by equating the coefficients of from each side of the equation. For the equation to be equal, the equivalent coefficients on each side of the equation must be equal.
Step 2.3
Create an equation for the partial fraction variables by equating the coefficients of the terms not containing . For the equation to be equal, the equivalent coefficients on each side of the equation must be equal.
Step 2.4
Set up the system of equations to find the coefficients of the partial fractions.
Step 3
Step 3.1
Solve for in .
Step 3.1.1
Rewrite the equation as .
Step 3.1.2
Move all terms not containing to the right side of the equation.
Step 3.1.2.1
Subtract from both sides of the equation.
Step 3.1.2.2
Subtract from both sides of the equation.
Step 3.2
Replace all occurrences of with in each equation.
Step 3.2.1
Replace all occurrences of in with .
Step 3.2.2
Simplify the right side.
Step 3.2.2.1
Simplify .
Step 3.2.2.1.1
Simplify each term.
Step 3.2.2.1.1.1
Apply the distributive property.
Step 3.2.2.1.1.2
Multiply by .
Step 3.2.2.1.1.3
Multiply by .
Step 3.2.2.1.2
Simplify by adding terms.
Step 3.2.2.1.2.1
Add and .
Step 3.2.2.1.2.2
Subtract from .
Step 3.3
Solve for in .
Step 3.3.1
Rewrite the equation as .
Step 3.3.2
Add to both sides of the equation.
Step 3.3.3
Divide each term in by and simplify.
Step 3.3.3.1
Divide each term in by .
Step 3.3.3.2
Simplify the left side.
Step 3.3.3.2.1
Cancel the common factor of .
Step 3.3.3.2.1.1
Cancel the common factor.
Step 3.3.3.2.1.2
Divide by .
Step 3.3.3.3
Simplify the right side.
Step 3.3.3.3.1
Simplify each term.
Step 3.3.3.3.1.1
Cancel the common factor of and .
Step 3.3.3.3.1.1.1
Factor out of .
Step 3.3.3.3.1.1.2
Cancel the common factors.
Step 3.3.3.3.1.1.2.1
Factor out of .
Step 3.3.3.3.1.1.2.2
Cancel the common factor.
Step 3.3.3.3.1.1.2.3
Rewrite the expression.
Step 3.3.3.3.1.2
Cancel the common factor of and .
Step 3.3.3.3.1.2.1
Factor out of .
Step 3.3.3.3.1.2.2
Cancel the common factors.
Step 3.3.3.3.1.2.2.1
Factor out of .
Step 3.3.3.3.1.2.2.2
Cancel the common factor.
Step 3.3.3.3.1.2.2.3
Rewrite the expression.
Step 3.4
Replace all occurrences of with in each equation.
Step 3.4.1
Replace all occurrences of in with .
Step 3.4.2
Simplify the right side.
Step 3.4.2.1
Simplify .
Step 3.4.2.1.1
Apply the distributive property.
Step 3.4.2.1.2
To write as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by .
Step 3.4.2.1.3
Combine and .
Step 3.4.2.1.4
Combine the numerators over the common denominator.
Step 3.4.2.1.5
Combine the numerators over the common denominator.
Step 3.4.2.1.6
Multiply by .
Step 3.4.2.1.7
Subtract from .
Step 3.4.2.1.8
Factor out of .
Step 3.4.2.1.8.1
Factor out of .
Step 3.4.2.1.8.2
Factor out of .
Step 3.4.2.1.8.3
Factor out of .
Step 3.4.2.1.9
Rewrite as .
Step 3.4.2.1.10
Factor out of .
Step 3.4.2.1.11
Factor out of .
Step 3.4.2.1.12
Move the negative in front of the fraction.
Step 3.4.3
Replace all occurrences of in with .
Step 3.4.4
Simplify the right side.
Step 3.4.4.1
Simplify .
Step 3.4.4.1.1
Simplify each term.
Step 3.4.4.1.1.1
Apply the distributive property.
Step 3.4.4.1.1.2
Cancel the common factor of .
Step 3.4.4.1.1.2.1
Factor out of .
Step 3.4.4.1.1.2.2
Cancel the common factor.
Step 3.4.4.1.1.2.3
Rewrite the expression.
Step 3.4.4.1.1.3
Multiply by .
Step 3.4.4.1.1.4
Cancel the common factor of .
Step 3.4.4.1.1.4.1
Factor out of .
Step 3.4.4.1.1.4.2
Cancel the common factor.
Step 3.4.4.1.1.4.3
Rewrite the expression.
Step 3.4.4.1.1.5
Rewrite as .
Step 3.4.4.1.1.6
Rewrite as .
Step 3.4.4.1.2
Subtract from .
Step 3.5
Solve for in .
Step 3.5.1
Rewrite the equation as .
Step 3.5.2
Move all terms not containing to the right side of the equation.
Step 3.5.2.1
Add to both sides of the equation.
Step 3.5.2.2
Add and .
Step 3.5.3
Divide each term in by and simplify.
Step 3.5.3.1
Divide each term in by .
Step 3.5.3.2
Simplify the left side.
Step 3.5.3.2.1
Cancel the common factor of .
Step 3.5.3.2.1.1
Cancel the common factor.
Step 3.5.3.2.1.2
Divide by .
Step 3.5.3.3
Simplify the right side.
Step 3.5.3.3.1
Divide by .
Step 3.6
Replace all occurrences of with in each equation.
Step 3.6.1
Replace all occurrences of in with .
Step 3.6.2
Simplify the right side.
Step 3.6.2.1
Simplify .
Step 3.6.2.1.1
Simplify the numerator.
Step 3.6.2.1.1.1
Multiply by .
Step 3.6.2.1.1.2
Subtract from .
Step 3.6.2.1.2
Simplify the expression.
Step 3.6.2.1.2.1
Multiply by .
Step 3.6.2.1.2.2
Move the negative in front of the fraction.
Step 3.6.2.1.3
Multiply .
Step 3.6.2.1.3.1
Multiply by .
Step 3.6.2.1.3.2
Multiply by .
Step 3.6.3
Replace all occurrences of in with .
Step 3.6.4
Simplify the right side.
Step 3.6.4.1
Simplify .
Step 3.6.4.1.1
Combine the numerators over the common denominator.
Step 3.6.4.1.2
Subtract from .
Step 3.7
List all of the solutions.
Step 4
Replace each of the partial fraction coefficients in with the values found for , , and .