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In algebra, the partial fraction decomposition or partial fraction expansion of a rational fraction (that is, a fraction such that the numerator and the denominator are both polynomials) is an operation that consists of expressing the fraction as a sum of a polynomial (possibly zero) and one or several fractions with a simpler denominator. [1]
Simplifying this further gives us the solution x = −3. It is easily checked that none of the zeros of x ( x + 1)( x + 2) – namely x = 0 , x = −1 , and x = −2 – is a solution of the final equation, so no spurious solutions were introduced.
Two fractions a / b and c / d are equal or equivalent if and only if ad = bc.) For example, 1 / 4 , 5 / 6 , and −101 / 100 are all irreducible fractions. On the other hand, 2 / 4 is reducible since it is equal in value to 1 / 2 , and the numerator of 1 / 2 is less than the ...
The reciprocal of a proper fraction is improper, and the reciprocal of an improper fraction not equal to 1 (that is, numerator and denominator are not equal) is a proper fraction. When the numerator and denominator of a fraction are equal (for example, 7 / 7 ), its value is 1, and the fraction therefore is improper. Its reciprocal is ...
This equation can be viewed as a Diophantine equation, that is, an equation for which only integer solutions are sought. In this case, the solution set is the empty set, since 2 is not the square of an integer. However, if one searches for real solutions, there are two solutions, √ 2 and – √ 2; in other words, the solution set is {√ 2 ...
In case 2, the rate of convergence depends on the absolute value of the ratio between the two roots: the farther that ratio is from unity, the more quickly the continued fraction converges. This general solution of monic quadratic equations with complex coefficients is usually not very useful for obtaining rational approximations to the roots ...
The sum of two proper rational fractions is a proper rational fraction as well. The reverse process of expressing a proper rational fraction as the sum of two or more fractions is called resolving it into partial fractions. For example, = + +. Here, the two terms on the right are called partial fractions.
Continued fractions can also be applied to problems in number theory, and are especially useful in the study of Diophantine equations. In the late eighteenth century Lagrange used continued fractions to construct the general solution of Pell's equation, thus answering a question that had fascinated mathematicians for more than a thousand years. [9]