How do you integrate 2/((x-1)^2(x+1))2(x1)2(x+1) using partial fractions?

1 Answer
Apr 8, 2017

int 2/((x-1)^2(x+1)) dx2(x1)2(x+1)dx

= -1/2 ln abs(x-1)-1/(x-1)+1/2ln abs(x+1) + C=12ln|x1|1x1+12ln|x+1|+C

Explanation:

2/((x-1)^2(x+1)) = A/(x-1)+B/(x-1)^2+C/(x+1)2(x1)2(x+1)=Ax1+B(x1)2+Cx+1

color(white)(2/((x-1)^2(x+1))) = (A(x-1)(x+1)+B(x+1)+C(x-1)^2)/((x-1)^2(x+1))2(x1)2(x+1)=A(x1)(x+1)+B(x+1)+C(x1)2(x1)2(x+1)

color(white)(2/((x-1)^2(x+1))) = ((A+C)x^2+(B-2C)x+(-A+B+C))/((x-1)^2(x+1))2(x1)2(x+1)=(A+C)x2+(B2C)x+(A+B+C)(x1)2(x+1)

Equating coefficients, we find:

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

Adding all three equations together, we find:

2B=2

and hence:

B=1

Then from the second equation we find:

C=1/2

Then from the first equation we find:

A=-1/2

So:

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

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

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