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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around evaluating the integral \(\int \frac{x}{(x+1)\sqrt{1-x^2}}\ dx\), which involves trigonometric and algebraic substitutions. Participants explore various methods and substitutions to simplify the integral and express it in a solvable form.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants suggest different substitution methods, including trigonometric substitutions and algebraic manipulations. Some question the validity of the original approach and seek clarification on specific steps taken in the calculations.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing feedback on each other's approaches. Some have offered alternative methods, while others are revisiting their original solutions to identify potential errors. There is no explicit consensus on the best approach yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty regarding the correctness of their solutions and the signs involved in the final results. There are mentions of discrepancies between personal results and those obtained from computational tools like Mathematica.

twoflower
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Hi,

I'm trying to find this integral:

[tex] \int \frac{x}{(x+1)\sqrt{1-x^2}}\ dx[/tex]

Because [itex]1-x^2[/itex] has two different real solutions, I can write

[tex] \sqrt{ax^2 + bx + c} = \sqrt{-a}(x_2 - x)\sqrt{\frac{x-x_1}{x_2 - x}}[/tex]
so
[tex] \sqrt{1-x^2} = (-1 - x)\sqrt{\frac{x - 1}{-1 - x}} = (-1 - x)\sqrt{\frac{1-x}{1+x}}[/tex]

I used this substitution:
[tex] t = \sqrt{\frac{1-x}{1+x}}[/tex]

It gives
[tex] x = \frac{1-t^2}{1 + t^2}[/tex]

[tex] x + 1 = \frac{2}{1+t^2}[/tex]

[tex] dx = \frac{-4t}{(1+t^2)^2}[/tex]

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

Damn I know I should be able to solve this integral, but I don't know how, maybe it's too late for me... :frown:

Btw the correct result should be:

[tex] \int \frac{x}{(x+1)\sqrt{1-x^2}}\ dx = \sqrt{\frac{1-x}{1+x}} + 2\arctan \sqrt{\frac{1+x}{1-x}} + C[/tex]

Thank you.
 
Last edited:
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Why don't you try a simple trig substitution and go from there? You can first get rid of the square root and try to simplify.

[tex] \int \frac{x}{(x+1)\sqrt{1-x^2}}\ dx[/tex]

[tex]\int \frac{sin@cos@~d@}{(sin@cos@+cos@)}[/tex]

Next try multiplying by [tex]\frac{(cos@-sin@cos@)}{cos@-sin@cos@}[/tex]
 
Thank you GCT, it's interesting idea, but it seems it leads to [itex]t = \tan \frac{x}{2}[/itex] substitution, which is little tricky in my experience...could you look please at my original solution and tell me what's wrong there?

Thanks!
 
A quick glance

[tex]x+1=\frac{2}{1+t^{2}}[/tex]

,assuming "x" was right in the first place.

Daniel.
 
dextercioby said:
A quick glance

[tex]x+1=\frac{2}{1+t^{2}}[/tex]

,assuming "x" was right in the first place.

Daniel.

Thank you Daniel! How stupid I am..So I'm going to go solve it again, hopefully it will be ok now :smile:
 
I edited my initial post now, could you now help me how to solve that?
 
[tex]\int \frac{t^{2}}{1+t^{2}} \ dt=\int \frac{1+t^{2}-1}{1+t^{2}} \ dt[/tex]

Daniel.
 
Thank you I noticed it already :) Now the result seems ok, except for sign and similar technicalities..
 
You can check the sign out.It looks okay to me.


Daniel.
 
  • #10
Well, the right result should be
[tex] \int \frac{x}{(x+1)\sqrt{1-x^2}}\ dx = \sqrt{\frac{1-x}{1+x}} + 2\arctan \sqrt{\frac{1+x}{1-x}} + C[/tex]

but I have
[tex] 2 \arctan \sqrt{\frac{1-x}{1+x}} - \sqrt{\frac{1-x}{1+x}}[/tex]
 
  • #11
I don't have time now,i'll take a deeper look later.

Daniel.
 
  • #12
[tex]\int \frac{x}{(x+1)\sqrt{1-x^2}}\ dx=\int \frac{x+1-1}{(x+1)\sqrt{1-x^2}}\ dx=\int \frac{1}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}\ dx-\int \frac{1}{(x+1)\sqrt{1-x^2}}\ dx[/tex]
First one is obvious. For second [tex]t=\frac{1}{x+1}[/tex] will lead to simple solution.
The answer then is different from what you've given, but Mathematica says that it's absolutely correct.
 
  • #13
Twoflower, in case you're interested

[tex]\int \frac{sin@cos@~d@}{(sin@cos@+cos@)} * \frac{(cos@-sin@cos@)}{cos@-sin@cos@}[/tex]

[tex]\int \frac{sin@cos^{2}@-sin^{2}cos^{2}@~d@}{cos^{2}@-sin^{2}@cos^{2}@}[/tex]

[tex]\int \frac{sin@cos^{2}@}{cos^{2}@-sin^{2}@cos^{2}@}~-~ \int \frac{sin^{2}@cos^{2}@~d@}{cos^{2}@-sin^{2}@cos^{2}@}[/tex]

[tex]\int \frac{sin@~d@}{cos^{2}@}~-~ \int \frac{sin^{2}@~d@}{cos^{2}@}[/tex]

The left term can be resolved using substitution. The right term simplifies to
[tex]\int \frac{1}{cos^{2}@}~-~\int d@[/tex]

anyone see any mistakes? Please point them out.
 
  • #14
[tex]\int \frac{sin@~d@}{cos^{2}@} = -\int \frac{d(\cos@)}{cos^{2}@}[/tex]

It's all right with your solution GCT. At least it's not so artificiall as which Twoflower made.
 

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