Need help checking integration answers

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around integration techniques, specifically using partial fractions to solve integrals involving rational functions. Participants are examining their solutions to various integration problems and seeking verification of their methods and results.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply partial fraction decomposition to several integrals, raising questions about the correctness of their substitutions and simplifications. Some participants question the validity of the original poster's integration steps and suggest reviewing specific parts of their work.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the original poster's attempts, providing feedback on specific integrals. Some guidance has been offered regarding the integration by parts method and the simplification of logarithmic expressions. Multiple interpretations of the integrals are being explored, particularly in the context of confirming or correcting the original poster's results.

Contextual Notes

There are indications of uncertainty regarding the integration techniques used, particularly in the context of the original poster's understanding of the integration by parts method and the handling of logarithmic functions. Participants are also addressing potential errors in the original poster's calculations and assumptions.

shan
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I just want someone to check since I only learned this 'Integration using partial fractions' method today and I'm not sure I got it right...

First question:
[tex]\int \frac {dx}{x^2-a^2}[/tex] = [tex]\int \frac {dx}{(x+a)(x-a)}[/tex]

let [tex]\frac {1}{(x+a)(x-a)} \equiv \frac {A}{x+a} + \frac {B}{x-a}[/tex]

[tex]\equiv \frac {A(x-a)+B(x+a)}{(x+a)(x-a)}[/tex]

so [tex]1 \equiv (A+B)x+a(-A+B)[/tex]

equate coefficients to find:
[tex]B=\frac{1}{2a}[/tex] and [tex]A=\frac{-1}{2a}[/tex]

substituting A and B back:
[tex]\int \frac {dx}{(x+a)(x-a)}[/tex] = -[tex]\int \frac {x+a}{2a} dx + \int \frac {x-a}{2a} dx[/tex]

I took the 1/2a out and integrated and got:
[tex]\frac {-1}{2a} \frac {x^2}{2} + ax + \frac {1}{2a} \frac {x^2}{2} - ax + c[/tex]

which simplifies to c :bugeye: which looks extremely strange to me...


Second question:
[tex]\int \frac {dx}{16x^4-1} = \int \frac {dx}{(4x^2+1)(2x+1)(2x-1)}[/tex]

let [tex]\frac {1}{16x^4-1} \equiv \frac {Ax+B}{4x^2+1} + \frac {C}{2x+1} + \frac {D}{2x-1}[/tex]

[tex]\equiv \frac {(Ax+B)(4x^2-1)+C(2x-1)(4x^2+1)+D(2x+1)(4x^2+1)}{16x^4-1}[/tex]

[tex]1 \equiv x^3(4A+8C+8D)+x^2(4B-4C+4D)+x(-A+2C+2D)+D-C-B[/tex]

equating coffecients to get:
4A+8C+8D=0
4B-4C+4D=0
-A+2C+2D=0
D-C-B=1

I then found:
A=0, B=-1/2, C=-1/4 and D=1/4

substituting back into the integral:
[tex]\int \frac {dx}{16x^4-1} = \frac {-1}{2} \int 4x^2+1 dx - \frac {1}{4} \int 2x+1 dx + \frac {1}{4} \int 2x+1[/tex]
= [tex]\frac{-4x^3}{6}+x-\frac{x^2}{4}+x+\frac{x^2}{4}-x+c[/tex]
= [tex]\frac {-2x^3}{3}+x+c[/tex]


Last question:
[tex]\int \frac {2}{(x^2+x+2)(x+1)}dx[/tex]

let [tex]\frac {2}{(x^2+x+2)(x+1)} \equiv \frac {Ax+B}{(x+\frac {1}{2})^2 + \frac {7}{4}} + \frac {C}{x+1}[/tex]

[tex]\equiv \frac {(Ax+B)(x+1)+C((x+\frac {1}{2})^2+\frac {7}{4})}{(x^2+x+2)(x+1)}[/tex]

[tex]2\equiv x^2(A+C)+x(A+B+C)+B+2C[/tex]

equating coefficients:
A+C=0
A+B+C=0
B+2C=2

so: A=-1, B=0, C=1

putting it back into the integral:
[tex]\int \frac {2}{(x^2+x+2)(x+1)}dx = -\int \frac {x}{(x+\frac {1}{2})^2+\frac {7}{4}} dx + \int \frac {1}{x+1} dx[/tex]

I integrated the first part using the 'Integration by parts' method and then simplified to get:

[tex]\frac {-x}{\sqrt {\frac{7}{4}}} \arctan (\frac {x+\frac{1}{2}}{\sqrt {7}}) - \tan (\frac {2x+1}{\sqrt{7}}) + ln(x+1) + c[/tex]

Thanks in advance :)
 
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For #1 and #2, I want you to look very hard at the part where you subbed A and B back in and see if you see anything wrong (are you sure all those functions of x should be in the numerator?).

I'll look at 3 in a minute~
 
3 looks fine from the work you have down, but your answer is wrong. Check over your integration by parts~
 
Oops...

is #1
[tex]\frac {-1}{2a} ln(2ax+2a^2) + \frac {1}{2a} ln(2ax-2a^2) + c<br /> ?<br /> <br /> for #2<br /> [tex]\frac {-1}{2} \int \frac {1}{4x^2+1} dx - \frac {1}{8}ln(2x+1) + \frac {1}{8}ln(2x+1)[/tex]<br /> I don't know how to integrate [tex]\int \frac {1}{4x^2+1} dx[/tex] ?<br /> <br /> #3...I got to:<br /> [tex]\frac {-x}{2(x^2+x+2)} - \int \frac {1}{2x^4+8x^2+8x+4}[/tex]<br /> but I don't know what to do after that...[/tex]
 
sorry, sorry, I mucked up the reply...

it's supposed to be...



Oops...

is #1
[tex]\frac {-1}{2a} ln(2ax+2a^2) + \frac {1}{2a} ln(2ax-2a^2) + c[/tex]
?

for #2
[tex]\frac {-1}{2} \int \frac {1}{4x^2+1} dx - \frac {1}{8}ln(2x+1) + \frac {1}{8}ln(2x+1)[/tex]
I don't know how to integrate [tex]\int \frac {1}{4x^2+1} dx[/tex] though?

#3...I got to:
[tex]\frac {-x}{2(x^2+x+2)} - \int \frac {1}{2x^4+8x^2+8x+4}[/tex]
but I don't know what to do after that...
 
[tex]\int \frac{dx}{4x^{2}+1}=\frac{1}{2}\int \frac{d(2x)}{(2x)^{2}+1}=\frac{1}{2}\arctan 2x +C[/tex]

Okay...?
 
so #2 becomes
[tex]\frac {-1}{4} \arctan(2x) - \frac {1}{8}ln(2x+1) + \frac {1}{8}ln(2x+1) + c[/tex] ?
 
#1 looks right. You can simplify it to

[tex]\frac{1}{2a} \ln \left(\frac{x-a}{x+a} \right) + C[/tex]

too. Do you see how?

#2 is perfect.

For 3, note that

[tex]\int \frac{2}{(x^2+x+2)(x+1)} \ dx = -\int \frac{x}{\left(x+\frac{1}{2}\right)^2 + \frac{7}{4}} \ dx + \int \frac{dx}{x+1}[/tex]

[tex]= -\int \frac{x + \frac{1}{4}}{\left(x + \frac{1}{2}\right)^2 + \frac{7}{4}} \ dx + \int \frac{\frac{1}{4}}{\left(x + \frac{1}{2}\right)^2 + \frac{7}{4}} \ dx + \ln (x+1)[/tex]

[tex]= -\int \frac{x + \frac{1}{4}}{\left(x + \frac{1}{2}\right)^2 + \frac{7}{4}} \ dx + \frac{1}{2\sqrt{7}}\arctan \left( \frac{2x+1}{\sqrt{7}} \right) + \ln (x+1)[/tex]

and see if the substitution [itex]u = (x+ 1/2)^2[/itex] will help to evaluate the first integral.
 
Last edited:

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