How do you write the partial fraction decomposition of the rational expression (5x+7)/(x^2+4x-5)?

1 Answer
Dec 13, 2015

(5x+7)/(x^2+4x-5)=3/(x+5)+2/(x-1)

Explanation:

The denominator may be factorized as a trinomial as follows :

x^2+4x-5=(x+5)(x-1).

Since these are 2 different linear factors, we may write the original expression in terms of partial fractions as follows :

(5x+7)/(x^2+4x-5)=A/(x+5)+B/(x-1)

=(A(x-1)+B(x+5))/((x+5)(x-1))

=(Ax-A+Bx+5B)/((x+5)(x-1))

=((A+B)x+(5B-A))/((x+5)(x-1))

Now comparing terms in the numerator yields the following set of linear equations which may be solved simultaneously :

A+B=5 and 5B-A=7

Solving we get :

A=5-B=>5B-(5-B)=7=>B=12/6=2.

therefore A=5-2=3.

Hence the partial fraction decomposition is

(5x+7)/(x^2+4x-5)=3/(x+5)+2/(x-1)