How do you integrate x^2 / (x-1)^3x2(x1)3 using partial fractions?

1 Answer
Dec 7, 2016

ln(x-1)-2/(x-1)-1/(2(x-1)^2)+Cln(x1)2x112(x1)2+C

Explanation:

Assume that there exist A, B and CA,BandC such that:
x^2/(x-1)^3-=A/((x-1))+B/(x-1)^2+C/(x-1)^3x2(x1)3A(x1)+B(x1)2+C(x1)3.
To find AA, BB and CC substitute any three different numbers other than -11 and solve the resulting set of three linear equations. For example, set x=0x=0, 22 and -11:
0=A/-1+B+C/-10=A1+B+C1
4=A+B+C4=A+B+C
-1/8=A/-2+B/4-C/818=A2+B4C8
giving A=1A=1, B=2B=2 and C=1C=1.
So the required integral is:
int1/(x-1)+2/(x-1)^2+1/(x-1)^3dx1x1+2(x1)2+1(x1)3dx
which gives the answer above.

Alternatively, instead of using partial fractions, substitute u=x-1u=x1 to get int1/u+2/u^2+1/u^3du1u+2u2+1u3du.