Split 1/x^2-1 into partial fractions

First we need to factorise the denominator into (x-1)(x+1). Now we identify that 1/(x-1)(x+1) is equivalent to A/(x-1) + B/(x+1) and now we solve to find the values of A and B. By simplifying the equivalent expression and collecting coefficients we find that 1 = A(x+1) +B(x-1) which solves to give A=1/2 and B= -1/2.

TM

Related Maths A Level answers

All answers ▸

Prove that sin(x)+sin(y)=2sin((x+y)/2)cos((x-y)/2)


A medical test will be positive for 0.05% of people and negative for everyone else. Suppose a hospital will test 4000 patients each day. Use an appropriate approximation to find the probability that 5 people test positive tomorrow. (5SF)


Express 3 cos θ + 4 sin θ in the form R cos(θ – α), where R and α are constants, R > 0 and 0 < α < 90°.


Prove that 2Sec(x)Cot(x) is identical to 2Cosec(x)