Accedmychevron_right11thchevron_rightmathchevron_rightPartial Fractionschevron_rightExercise 5.1

Solution

Let:

1x(x+1)3=Ax+Bx+1+C(x+1)2+D(x+1)3\frac{1}{x(x+1)^3}=\frac{A}{x}+\frac{B}{x+1}+\frac{C}{(x+1)^2}+\frac{D}{(x+1)^3}

Multiply by x(x+1)3x(x+1)^3:

1=A(x+1)3+Bx(x+1)2+Cx(x+1)+Dx1=A(x+1)^3+Bx(x+1)^2+Cx(x+1)+Dx

Put x=0x=0:

1=AA=11=A\Rightarrow A=1

Put x=1x=-1:

1=DD=11=-D\Rightarrow D=-1

Solving remaining coefficients gives B=1B=-1, C=1C=-1.

Hence:

1x(x+1)3=1x1x+11(x+1)21(x+1)3\boxed{\frac{1}{x(x+1)^3}=\frac{1}{x}-\frac{1}{x+1}-\frac{1}{(x+1)^2}-\frac{1}{(x+1)^3}}