[SPLIT] Why doesn't 'cover-up method' work for...?

[kase11]

I had one other question about partial factors:

Why doesn't the cover-up method work for prime quardratic factors? To answer this question, consider the partial fraction below and explain what happens when you apply the technique to prime factors.


(2x+1)/(x^2+1)(x+2)=A/(x+2) + Bx+C/(x^2+1)

 

[stapel]

I'm going to guess that the "cover-up method" (of which I'd never before heard mention) is the method expounded on this page.

To see why it doesn't work, try using it. What happens? :wink:

Eliz.

 

[tkhunny]

I thought it was the "Soroban Method". I still don't quite like it, but it's growing on me. Real numbers don't make it zero! Ah, too bad. Now I feel better.