Partial fraction decomposition is when you break a polynomial fraction down into smaller fractions that add together. ## Degree where the numerator is less 1. Factor the bottom. 2. Create two fractions, $\frac{a}{p1}$, and $\frac{b}{p2}$, where p1 and p2 are the polynomials you just factored out, and a/b are arbitrary variables 3. Multiply a by p2, and b by p1., giving you: $$\frac{a*p2}{p1} + \frac{b*p1}{p2}$$ 4. When you split the ### Example $$ \frac{2x+1}{(x+1)(x+2)} $$ Given the above fraction, the denominator is already factored, so we can move onto the next step, where two fractions are made with $a$ and $b$ in the numerator, and each of the denominator components in the denominator: $$ \frac{a}{x+1} + \frac{b}{x+2} $$ Next, find a common denominator so that you can add the two fractions together. In this case, it's $(x+1)(x+2)$. ## Degree of the numerator is equal 1. First perform polynomial division. 2. Then find a partial fraction with the remainder ## Degree where the numerator is greater 1. First perform polynomial division to reach a point where the degree of the numerator is less than the degree of the denominator