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tandoorichicken
Jan20-04, 08:45 PM
Find the length of y = \frac{1}{3} (x^2 + 2)^{\frac{3}{2}} from x=0 to x=3.

I used the formula s = \int_{a}^{b} \sqrt{1 + \frac{\,dy}{\,dx}} \,dx .
After plugging everything in, I got
s = \int_{0}^{3} (1 + \frac{1}{4} (x^2 + 2))}^\frac{1}{2} \,dx
Now, this isn't an integral I've learned how to do, so
1) Did I do anything wrong, and
2) If yes, what?

tandoorichicken
Jan20-04, 08:52 PM
I realized I forgot to use the chain rule when doing dy/dx. However when I do that, I get even a messier integral,
s = \int_{0}^{3} (1 + x^2(x^2 + 2))^\frac{1}{2} \,dx

?

himanshu121
Jan20-04, 09:42 PM
It should be

s = \int_{a}^{b} \sqrt{1 + (\frac{\,dy}{\,dx})^2} \,dx

But thats not the pro u just wrote the wrong one and applied the right

u also have
1+x^2(x^2+2) = 1+x^4+2x^2=x^4+2x^2+1=(x^2+1)^2
Is it enough

tandoorichicken
Jan21-04, 06:49 PM
Woah yeah, thanks, overlooked a simple thing there.