How Can I Finish Integrating a Natural Log Using Integration by Parts?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the integration of the natural logarithm function, specifically the integral of ln(2x+1) using integration by parts. Participants are exploring various methods to complete the integration process.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts integration by parts and questions the correctness of their approach. They express frustration over not being able to finish the problem despite knowing a solution exists. Other participants suggest alternative substitutions and methods, including changing variables and simplifying the integrand.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, providing suggestions and confirming the validity of approaches. There is a recognition of multiple methods being explored, but no explicit consensus has been reached on the final solution.

Contextual Notes

Some participants question the constants involved in the substitutions and the implications of their choices, indicating a need for clarity on the integration process. The original poster expresses a sense of frustration with the problem's apparent simplicity.

krusty the clown
[SOLVED] Integration of a natural log

I am asked to Integrate by parts

[tex]\int \ln(2x+1) dx[/tex]

So,
[tex]\mbox{u}=ln(2x+1)[/tex]
[tex]\mbox{du}=\frac{2}{2x+1}[/tex]
[tex]\mbox{dv}=\mbox{dx}[/tex]
[tex]\mbox{v}=\mbox{x}[/tex]
I plug all of that in and I get,

[tex]{\int \ln(2x+1) dx\}={\mbox{x}\ln(2x+1)}-{\int \frac{2x}{2x+1} \mbox{dx}}[/tex]

At this point I tried doing another substitution letting u equal 2x, but this just brought me back to the original question.
After this anything I try to do doesn't lead me anywhere. I know it can be solved because the answer is in the back of the book.
First, is what I have done so far correct?
Second, how do I finish the problem?
Any help you have would be greatly appreciated.

Erik
 
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Try approaching it like this:

Let θ = 2x+1, so that your integral is:

[tex]\int{\ln\left(2x+1\right) dx} = 2\int{\ln\theta d\theta}[/tex]

Now you can integrate by parts like you did before, with:

u = ln(θ) --> du = dθ/θ
dv = dθ --> v = θ

You should get:

[tex]2\left[ \theta\ln\theta - \theta \right][/tex]

as your result. Now all you have to do is plug θ = 2x+1 back into find the final indefinite integral.
 
jamesrc's suggestion is good. If you want to go ahead do it the way you were, you can actually do the division [itex]\frac{2x}{2x+1}= 1- \frac{1}{2x+1}[/itex]. Of course, to do the integral of [itex]\frac{1}{2x+1}[/itex], make the substition u= 2x+1 (which gets you right back to jamesrc's suggestion).
 
Last edited by a moderator:
thanks for your help, I hate it when the answer is so obvious and I can't figure it out.

Thanks, Erik
 
One final question, when you substituted theda, shouldn't the constant in front of the integral be 1/2 instead of 2?

(using u instead of theda)

u=2x-1
du=2dx
dx=(1/2)du
 
Yes, it should be 1/2.
 
Yes, sorry about that. At least that proves that you know what you're doing.
 

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