To break into partial fractions, the numerator must have a smaller degree
than the denominator. If the numerator has the same or larger degree, we
must first divide by long division:
1
x² + x - 6)x² + 9x + 8
x² + x - 6
8x + 14
= 1 +
So we break into partial fractions and add
what we get to the 1 above:
= = +
8x + 14 = A(x - 2) + B(x + 3)
This must be an identity for all x, so we substitute 2 for x to make the
first term on the right become 0:
8(2) + 14 = A(2 - 2) + B(2 + 3)
16 + 14 = 5B
30 = 5B
6 = B
Substitute -3 for x to make the second term on the right become 0:
8(-3) + 14 = A(-3 - 2) + B(-3 + 3)
-24 + 14 = -5A
-10 = -5A
2 = A
= +
Now we add that to 1 and get
= 1 + +
Edwin