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Before, integrating, we can often split a fraction into its partial fractions to make the integration process significantly more simple. However, I have realised that this fraction we can split can take on various forms.

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Although, I can easily remember these forms for partial fractions given each case, I want to know the intuition behind it. Consider number 1. It makes sense that to add these two fractions, we can make the denominator the same, and the resulting numerator will be linear. However consider number 2, can number 2 not be expressed as the previous case, but now we have a squared term on one of the partial fractions. Why?

I am looking for intuition to determine the denominator of partial fractions. I don't want to remember all of these, but rather, when given an algebraic fraction, already be able to determine the form of the partial fractions and the intuition for this. Conside case 5, how come now the numerator is $Bx+C$?

James Chadwick
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  • Imagine that the numerator was just $Bx$ or even just $B$. Now, cross multiply and try to equate coefficients. Hopefully the reason why the numerator must be one degree lower than the denominator becomes clear. A similar reason applies for repeated factors - the decomposition is not unique otherwise. – Red Five May 09 '24 at 11:09
  • Part of this post may address your question about form (2) – user170231 May 09 '24 at 17:03
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    There are lots of similar questions already: https://math.stackexchange.com/q/20963/1242, https://math.stackexchange.com/q/368665/1242, https://math.stackexchange.com/q/185264/1242, https://math.stackexchange.com/q/48051/1242, https://math.stackexchange.com/q/3132606/1242, https://math.stackexchange.com/q/2108566/1242, etc. – Hans Lundmark May 09 '24 at 17:15

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