How do I solve for the integral of x^2 / (2x+2) without decomposition?

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The integral of the function \(\int{\frac{x^2}{2x+2}dx}\) can be solved using Polynomial Long Division, as the degree of the numerator is greater than that of the denominator. The correct approach involves rewriting the integral as \(\int{\left(\frac{1}{2}x - \frac{1}{2} - \frac{\frac{1}{2}}{x+1}\right)dx}\), which simplifies the integration process. This method allows for straightforward integration of each term, leading to the final result. The discussion emphasizes the importance of recognizing when to apply Polynomial Long Division before attempting partial fraction decomposition.

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It has been about 2 years since i last did calculus but I am trying to get back into it so I am ready for college / don't kill myself because of boredom

I am having difficulty finding integrals of the form
\int{\frac{x^2}{x+a}dx}

This integral inparticular is:
\int{{\frac{x^2}{2x+2}dx}

I couldn't find a u or a du that would work

I then tried to decompose the fraction to \frac{x^2}{2x+2} = \frac{A}{2} + \frac{B}{x+1} but could't solve for A, which makes sense, so that won't work.

Next i tied integration by parts
\int{vdu} = uv - \int{udv}

where i used u=.5 ln|2x+2|,du=(2x+2)^{-1},v=x^2[/itex],dv=2x.<br /> <br /> then<br /> <br /> \int{\frac{x^2}{2x+2}dx} = .5x^2 ln |2x+2| - \int{ln |2x+2|xdx}<br /> <br /> for the second integral I have:<br /> u=.5x^2,du=xdx,v=ln |2x+2| [/itex],dv=2(2x+2)^{-1}.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; where&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; \int{ x ln|2x+2| dx} = .5x^2 ln |2x+2| - \int{\frac{x^2}{2x+2}dx}&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; and finally both sides cancel out:&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; \int{\frac{x^2}{2x+2}dx} = .5x^2 ln |2x+2| - .5x^2 ln |2x+2| +\int{\frac{x^2}{2x+2}dx}&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; \int{\frac{x^2}{2x+2}dx} = \int{\frac{x^2}{2x+2}dx}&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; Ive checked the trig rules as well as the inverse trig rules and no other rules match. Does an integral for this function not exsist or am I missing something?
 
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When you are integrating a fraction, of which the degree in the numerator is greater than or equal to the degree of the denominator, one should use Polynomial Long Division first, then use Partial Fraction.
I'll give you an example:
Say, you want to integrate:
\int \frac{x ^ 2}{x + 1} dx
The degree in the numerator is 2, which is greater than the degree of the denominator 1. So we should use Polynomial Long Division first to get:
\int \frac{x ^ 2}{x + 1} dx = \int \left( x - 1 + \frac{1}{x + 1} \right) dx = \int (x - 1) dx + \int \frac{dx}{x + 1}
From here, we can use the substitution u = x + 1 to solve the second integral. So the result is:
\int \frac{x ^ 2}{x + 1} dx = \int (x - 1) dx + \int \frac{dx}{x + 1} = \frac{x ^ 2}{2} - x + \ln |x + 1| + C.
Ok, can you get this? :)
Can you go from here? :)
 
Last edited:
r16 said:
It has been about 2 years since i last did calculus but I am trying to get back into it so I am ready for college / don't kill myself because of boredom

I am having difficulty finding integrals of the form
\int{\frac{x^2}{x+a}dx}

This integral inparticular is:
\int{{\frac{x^2}{2x+2}dx}

I couldn't find a u or a du that would work

I then tried to decompose the fraction to \frac{x^2}{2x+2} = \frac{A}{2} + \frac{B}{x+1} but could't solve for A, which makes sense, so that won't work.
?? Partial fractions requires "proper" fractions- that is, that the numerator has lower dimension than the denominator. In this case, you need to divide first.
\frac{x^2}{2x+2}= \frac{1}{2}x- \frac{1}{2}- \frac{\frac{1}{2}}{x+1}}

That should be easy to integrate.
 
polynomial long division rings a bell, i completely forgout about it. I am good from there
 
i didnt know the stipulation about decomposing the fraction, but that makes sense. thanks!
 

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