How do you integrate 1/ ((x + 1)(x + 2))1(x+1)(x+2) using partial fractions?

1 Answer
Mar 27, 2017

int dx/((x+1)(x+2)) = ln abs ((x+1)/(x+2)) +Cdx(x+1)(x+2)=lnx+1x+2+C

Explanation:

Write the rational function as a sum of partial fractions:

1/((x+1)(x+2)) = A/(x+1)+B/(x+2)1(x+1)(x+2)=Ax+1+Bx+2

1/((x+1)(x+2)) = (A(x+2)+B(x+1))/((x+1)(x+2))1(x+1)(x+2)=A(x+2)+B(x+1)(x+1)(x+2)

1/((x+1)(x+2)) = (Ax+2A+Bx+B)/((x+1)(x+2))1(x+1)(x+2)=Ax+2A+Bx+B(x+1)(x+2)

As the denominators are equal we can equate the numerators:

1 = (A+B)x+2A+B1=(A+B)x+2A+B

and equating the coefficients with the same degree in xx we have:

{(A+B=0),(2A+B = 1):}

{(B=-A),(2A-A = 1):}

{(A=1),(B= -1):}

So that:

1/((x+1)(x+2)) = 1/(x+1)-1/(x+2)

and integrating:

int dx/((x+1)(x+2)) = int dx/(x+1)-int dx/(x+2)

int dx/((x+1)(x+2)) = ln abs (x+1) -ln abs (x+2) +C

and using the properties of logarithms:

int dx/((x+1)(x+2)) = ln abs ((x+1)/(x+2)) +C