Windows 8.1 - multiple recovery partitions

Question

I have installed Windows 8 on a new PC, and immediately upgraded to 8.1.
I now have 2 recovery partitions. These are taking up space on an expensive SSD, and the one at the end of the disk is preventing Samsung Magician from reserving over provisioning space.
How do I remove them? What functionality will be lost if I do? If they simply contain the Windows Recovery Environment, I presume they are not necessary, as I could use a recovery drive or a Windows 8.1 DVD.
DISKPART> list partition
  Partition ###  Type              Size     Offset
  Partition 1    Recovery           300 MB  1024 KB
  Partition 2    System             100 MB   301 MB
  Partition 3    Reserved           128 MB   401 MB
  Partition 4    Primary            231 GB   529 MB
  Partition 5    Recovery           450 MB   232 GB

Answer 1

I documented the update process of Windows 8.1 when it was released. The only difference between my testing and the OP's layout is that he has no partition containing a recovery image, which is typical of a manual install. I found that when Windows 8 is
installed on a GPT disk, Windows 8.1 Update from the store will create a second windowsRE partition. This does not happen on MBR installations.
I outlined my research here:
http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/169284-windows-81-creates-2nd-recovery-partition/
To be clear, I am not recommending that any of the partitions to be removed. I also have no experience with the Samsung Magician software.