Partial fractions expansion: a review of computational methodology and efficiency

Nine methods for expressing a proper rational function in terms of partial fractions are presented for the case where the denominator polynomial has been reduced to linear factors. Only those methods which are amenable to computation algorithms are considered. To the extent possible, Newton's divided difference formula is used to provide a uniform derivational tool. Each method is illustrated numerically. The efficiency of the methods are compared on the basis of the number of multiplications and divisions required in the computation.