partial fractions for a function I need help finding the partial fraction decomposition for this function, I am just lost on it, here it is:
$(x^2 + x + 1)/(2x^4+3x^2+1)$. the help is appreciated. thank you.

The key to it is how to factor the denominator $2x^4+3x^2+1$. Denote $y=x^2$ and you're left with a quadratic $2y^2+3y+1$ whose roots are $-1$ and $-1/2$. So
$$2x^4+3x^2+1=(y+1)(2y+1)=(x^2+1)(2x^2+1)$$
Now we're looking for 
$${x^2+x+1\over 2x^4+3x^2+1}={ax+b\over x^2+1}+{cx+d\over 2x^2+1}$$
Multiply both sides by $x^2+1$ and substitute $x=i$ to get
$${i\over -1}=ai+b$$
and so $a=-1$ and $b=0$
Multiply both sides by $2x^2+1$ and substitute $x=i/\sqrt{2}$ to get
$${-{1\over 2}+{i\over\sqrt{2}}+1\over -{1\over 2}+1}=c{i\over\sqrt{2}}+d\iff {2i\over\sqrt{2}}+1=c{i\over\sqrt{2}}+d$$
and this yields $c=2$ and $d=1$ and so
$${x^2+x+1\over 2x^4+3x^2+1}={2x+1\over 2x^2+1}-{x\over x^2+1}$$
