Final Answer:
The partial fraction decomposition of 28/ (x^2-4) can be written as:
f(x) = -7 / (x-2) + 7 / (x+2)
Step-by-step explanation:
Factor the denominator: First, factor the denominator of the given fraction: 28 / (x^2 - 4) = 28 / (x-2)(x+2).
Assume the form: Since the denominator is factored into two linear terms, we assume the partial fraction decomposition to be:
28 / (x-2)(x+2) = f(x) / (x-2) + g(x) / (x+2)
where f(x) and g(x) are polynomials of a degree one less than the degree of the polynomial in the denominator (in this case, both f(x) and g(x) can be constants).
Clear denominators: To eliminate the fractions, we multiply both sides of the equation by the common denominator (x-2)(x+2):
28 = f(x)(x+2) + g(x)(x-2)
Solve for f(x) and g(x): Substitute values of x that will eliminate one of the unknown variables and solve for the other.
Substitute x = 2: 28 = f(2)(2+2) + g(2)(2-2) => 28 = 4f(2) => f(2) = 7.
Substitute x = -2: 28 = f(-2)(-2+2) + g(-2)(-2-2) => 28 = -4g(-2) => g(-2) = -7.
Substitute back and simplify: Substitute the values of f(2) and g(-2) back into the equation to solve for f(x) and g(x):
f(x) = 7 / (x-2)
g(x) = -7 / (x+2)
Therefore, the complete partial fraction decomposition of 28/ (x^2-4) is:
28 / (x^2-4) = -7 / (x-2) + 7 / (x+2)