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Find constants A and B such that\frac{x + 7}{x^2 - x - 2} = \frac{A}{x - 2} + \frac{B}{x + 1}for all x such that x\neq -1 and x\neq 2. Give your answer as the ordered pair (A,B).

 Jan 8, 2015

Best Answer 

 #1
avatar+130555 
+6

This is a partial fraction problem.....getting a common denominator on the right will give us equal denominators on both sides....then, we can set the numerators equal on each side and solve....so we have

x + 7 = A(x+1) + B(x-2)   simplify

x + 7  = (A+B)x + (A - 2B)    equating co-efficients, we have

A + B  = 1 

A - 2B = 7     subtract the first equation form the second, and we have

-3B = 6         so B = -2     and using the first equation....A - 2  = 1  ...so A = 3

So, (A, B)  = (3, -2)

 

 Jan 8, 2015
 #1
avatar+130555 
+6
Best Answer

This is a partial fraction problem.....getting a common denominator on the right will give us equal denominators on both sides....then, we can set the numerators equal on each side and solve....so we have

x + 7 = A(x+1) + B(x-2)   simplify

x + 7  = (A+B)x + (A - 2B)    equating co-efficients, we have

A + B  = 1 

A - 2B = 7     subtract the first equation form the second, and we have

-3B = 6         so B = -2     and using the first equation....A - 2  = 1  ...so A = 3

So, (A, B)  = (3, -2)

 

CPhill Jan 8, 2015

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