Miss Loi is a full-time private tutor in Singapore specializing in O-Level Maths. Her life's calling is to eradicate the terrifying LMBFH Syndrome off the face of this planet. For over 17 years she has been a savior to countless students ... 
to defeating Partial Fractions
*Puts on helmet*
*SHOWS STERN & MEAN FACE*
*Sounds bugle* EVERYBODY FALL IN!
Today you’ll learn to deal with a new enemy originally from the A-Level campaign. Something never been seen by your previous O-Level comrades, nor has it appeared in the pages of the old Ten-Year Series 武林秘籍 (ala Secret Manual).
But fret not! Though it looks formidable at first, its size also makes it unwieldy and predictable, so master the rules of engagement (see A. and B. below) and follow the standard 三大招式 (Three Devastating Moves) detailed in each of the Sample Questions below, and you’ll be on your way to defeating these Partial Fractions!
NOW ALL TURN TO PAGE 1 OF YOUR 武林秘籍 (2008 revised edition)!!!
*Cracks whip*
Frag The Partial Fractions!
A. COMPULSORY PRE-CHECK
-
The degree of a polynomial is the highest power of x. e.g.
p(x) = 4x3 - 12x2 - x - 4 ⇒ degree = 3
q(x) = (x - 1)(x + 2) ⇒ degree = 2 ( ∵ when expanded q(x)=x2+x-2) -
For
:- if degree [ p(x) < q(x) ] ⇒ PROPER ⇒ proceed with main Partial Fraction calculations (YAY!)
- if degree [ p(x) ≥ q(x) ] ⇒ IMPROPER ⇒ Long Division Time! (see Qn 2 below) (SIANZ!) (note it’s greater OR EQUAL)
B. THE RULES OF PARTIAL FRACTIONS ENGAGEMENT
For : (*Have you ‘propered’ this first? See above.)
| Rule | If q(x) contains | Partial Fraction must contain |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | linear factor (ax+b) |
 for each linear factor |
| 2 | repeated linear factor (ax+b)2 |
 for each repeated linear factor |
| 3 | quadratic factor x2+c2 |
 for each quadratic factor |
(x2 - b2) can be factorized further into (x + b)(x - b)
→ two linear factors! (≠ quadratic/repeated linear factor!)
SAMPLE PRACTICE QUESTIONS
(Note the standard 三大招式 steps).
-
Express
in partial fractions.Ans:
- 第一式 (绝招)
Check: degree of (7x+4) = 1 < degree of (2x+1)(x-2)2 = 3
⇒ PROPER (YAY!) - 第二式
So
→ 1 x linear factor (2x+1) and
→ 1 x repeated linear factor (x-2)2Using Rules 1 & 2 from the table above, we have:
*Note there’re two components for the repeated linear factor (x-2)2!
- 第三式 (绝招)
Multiply both sides by (2x+1)(x-2)2,
7x+4 = A(x-2)2 + B(2x+1)(x-2) + C(2x+1)To find A, B and C, sub in suitable values for x that makes certain components disappear:
Sub x = 2,
Sub x =
,
Sub x = 0, A =
, C = 
,
Hence,
- 第一式 (绝招)
-
Express
in partial fractions.Ans:
- 第一式
Check: degree of (x4+9) = 4 > degree of (x3+3x) = 3
⇒ IMPROPER ⇒ LONG DIVISION TIME!!! (SIANZ!
)
- 第二式
Now
can be factorized further to 
→ 1 x linear factor (x) and
→ 1 x quadratic factor (x2+3)Using Rules 1 & 3 from the table above, we have:
*Note: all we need is the quotient (x) from the long division in i.
- 第三式
Multiply both sides by x(x2+3),
x4+9 = x2(x2+3) + A(x2+3) + (Bx+C)xTo find A, B and C, sub in suitable values for x that makes certain components disappear or your life easier:
Sub x = 0,
⇒ 9 = (0)(3) + A(3) + (C)(0)
⇒ A = 3Oh we can’t reduce other components to 0 with another substitution → need simultaneous equations here:
Sub x = 1 (to make your life easier), A = 3,
⇒ 1+9 = (1)(4) + (3)(4) + B + C
⇒ B + C = -6 —– (1)Sub x = -1 (to make your life easier), A = 3,
⇒ 1+9 = (1)(4) + (3)(4) + (-B + C)(-1)
⇒ B - C = -6 —– (2)Solving (1) & (2),
B = -6, C = 0Hence,
- 第一式
As always, get these rules drilled into your head! Spot the pointers and common mistakes in red! Understand the representative sample questions!
Print this out if necessary and remember the above procedures by heart, for if you don’t Sergeant Loi will unleash her own version of the 三大招式 upon you!
*Cracks whip!*
Comments
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8 Comments
曜
日
OMG! nitemare from A levels! i had a hard time understanding it last time! y kids these days so poor thing one! no wonder all having white hair earlier n earlier
曜
日
These days they need to master more 招式 before they are fit enough to practise the H1/H2 武功 in their A-Levels! White hair is a sign of 走火入魔了!
曜
日
OMG!!!…. Secondary students are learning all these stuffs now? I only learned it during my poly days. life getting tougher… Hahaha
曜
日
Partial fractions? I just did it again whilst doing Laplace transforms. Haha. Cover up rule saves up so much problems.. Somehow it reminded me that a few days ago I 传授 “玉女C经” to my godsis..lol..but its not math one..
曜
日
actually for parital fractions can just use 1 method to solve all 3 types of qn.
曜
日
OMG: Yes the 三大招式 (Three Devastating Moves) has been ‘传授-ed’ to all Sec Three disciples since 2007!
Sergeant Soupie:
What’s this dodgy “玉女C经” you’re imparting to your godsis?! Got A/B/C-size isit???!
Anyway, sort of expected the Cover-Up Rule to be brought up somewhere in the comments.
But since it is not being taught at all to current O Level students (maybe the powers-that-be simply hate shortcuts), Sergeant Loi has decided not to include it here to prevent any confusion.
For those who are interested in the Cover-Up Rule, check out the workings described in this link - strange that there’s no Wikipedia article on this.
It’s quick and it’s fast and it really works! BUT note that
Bry: Care to share your 绝世绝招? Or were you referring to the Cover-Up Rule too?
曜
日
lol..no la..programming C language lo..so 玉女C经.. I only got 武林秘籍 for such thing..math one gone liao. Haha.. Strange that the cover up rule wasn’t taught. It made things so much easier and lessens the amount of variables we got to use. I would definitely recommend students learn it (on their own..dun sabo Sergeant Loi if you fail your exams because of a lack of understanding of the cover up rule)..
曜
日
Actually, using the comparing coefficients method is pretty useful too; less mistakes. Haha. And the cover-up rule is merely an application of subbing in, as in “To find A, B and C, sub in suitable values for x that makes certain components disappear or your life easier”. Heehee. =)