Final answer:
Quadratic factors are considered when performing partial fraction decomposition with x².
Step-by-step explanation:
When performing partial fraction decomposition with x², the factors that are considered are quadratic factors.
Partial fraction decomposition is a method used to break down a rational function into simpler fractions. When the denominator contains a quadratic term like x², the factors considered are quadratic in nature, allowing us to express the function as a sum of fractions with linear denominators.
For example, if we have the fraction 1/(x²+3x+2), the quadratic factors are (x+2)(x+1), and we would decompose the fraction as A/(x+1) + B/(x+2) where A and B are constants.