Partial fractions question

aname

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Dec 12, 2014
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I am having problems with this question

3. \(\displaystyle \dfrac{1}{w^4\, -\, w^3}\)

I know I have to use partial fractions, and I got to this point

1 = A(x^2)(x-1) + B(x)(x-1) - (x)(x-1) + (x^3)

I trie plugging in x = 2 and x = -1 into the equation above to solve for A and B, but I keep getting the wrong answers for A and B?

The equations I end up with after plugging in x = 2 and x = -1 are
-5 = 4A + 2B and
4 = -2A + 2B, respectively, giving me

A = -3/2 and B = 1/2, but apparently A and B = -1?

Am I doing something wrong?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Oh, I see my mistake now, I wrote (x)(x-1) twice. I'll correct it and let you know how it goes.
 
After correcting my mistake, I got the right answer.

Would anyone like to see the process? It might take a while for me to post up though, since all my finals this quarter are grouped on Monday and Tuesday.
 
Would anyone like to see the process?
The steps you took could be very helpful for other students, so please feel free, as time allows, to post. (Note: To avoid confusion, it would probably be useful to stick to the variable "w". Switching to "x" could be befuddling.) Thank you! ;)
 
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