How do you express 2 / (x^3 + 1) in partial fractions?

1 Answer
Jun 18, 2016

2/(x^3+1) = 2/(3(x+1))+(2omega)/(3(x+omega))+(2omega^2)/(3(x+omega^2))

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

where omega=-1/2+sqrt(3)/2i is the primitive Complex cube root of 1.

Explanation:

Let omega denote the primitive Complex cube root of 1.

That is:

omega = -1/2+sqrt(3)/2i

Then:

omega^2 = bar(omega) = -1/2-sqrt(3)/2i

omega^3 = 1

1 + omega + omega^2 = 0

x^3+1 = (x+1)(x+omega)(x+omega^2)

We find:

1/(x+1)+omega/(x+omega)+omega^2/(x+omega^2)

=((x+omega)(x+omega^2)+omega(x+1)(x+omega^2)+omega^2(x+1)(x+omega))/(x^3+1)

=((1+omega+omega^2)x^2+2(1+omega+omega^2)x+3)/(x^3+1)

=3/(x^2+1)

Therefore:

2/(x^3+1) = 2/(3(x+1))+(2omega)/(3(x+omega))+(2omega^2)/(3(x+omega^2))

If we want a partial fraction decomposition with only Real coefficients, then combine the last two terms so:

=2/(3(x+1))+(2omega(x+omega^2)+2omega^2(x+omega))/(3(x+omega)(x+omega^2))

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