How do you express (4x-1)/( x^2(x-4)) in partial fractions?

1 Answer
Feb 5, 2017

The answer is =(1/4)/(x^2)+(-15/16)/(x)+(15/16)/(x-4)

Explanation:

Let's perform the decomposition into partial fractions

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

=(A(x-4)+B(x(x-4))+C(x^2))/(x^2(x-4))

As the denominators are the same, we compare the numerators

4x-1=A(x-4)+B(x(x-4))+C(x^2)

Let x=0, =>, -1=-4A, =>, A=1/4

Let x=4, =>, 15=16C, =>, C=15/16

Coefficients of x^2

0=B+C, =>, B=-15/16

Therefore

(4x-1)/(x^2(x-4))=(1/4)/(x^2)+(-15/16)/(x)+(15/16)/(x-4)