{"id":10435,"date":"2017-06-23t16:12:46","date_gmt":"2017-06-23t23:12:46","guid":{"rendered":"\/\/www.catharsisit.com\/hs\/?p=10435"},"modified":"2022-06-14t03:40:02","modified_gmt":"2022-06-14t10:40:02","slug":"ap-calculus-bc-review-partial-fractions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.catharsisit.com\/hs\/ap\/ap-calculus-bc-review-partial-fractions\/","title":{"rendered":"ap calculus bc review: partial fractions"},"content":{"rendered":"
the method of partial fractions<\/strong> is actually a technique of algebra<\/em> that allows you to rewrite certain kinds of rational expressions in a more useful way.<\/p>\n
in this review, we will discuss the how and when to use the method in integral problems, especially those found on the ap calculus bc exam.<\/p>\n
the method of partial fractions (pf)<\/h2>\n
the method is actually the reverse of adding rational expressions.<\/p>\n
suppose you have a rational function<\/strong>, that is, a fractional expression of two polynomial. <\/p>\n
more precisely, every rational function has the form , where both the numerator<\/strong> f<\/em> and denominator<\/strong> g<\/em> are polynomials. <\/p>\n
the question is this: can we find two or more simpler rational expressions that add to the given one?<\/em><\/p>\n
the key is to factor<\/em> the denominator. the denominators of the new fractions will involve these factors. then, working backward, you can figure out what the new numerators must be in order to arrive at your given function.<\/p>\n
of course, there are many details that i’m leaving out at the moment. we’ll explore the method in more detail below.<\/p>\n