Antiderivative of 1/sqrt(lnx - c)

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the antiderivative of the function 1/sqrt(ln(x) - c). Participants explore various substitution methods and transformations, examining the complexity of the integral and the potential use of special functions like the error function (erf) and its imaginary counterpart (erfi). The scope includes mathematical reasoning and technical exploration of integral calculus.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant asks for the antiderivative of 1/sqrt(ln(x) - c).
  • Another suggests substituting u = ln(x) to simplify the integral.
  • Some participants express doubt about the possibility of solving the integral, indicating it may not have an elementary form.
  • A participant discusses a substitution that transforms the integral into a form involving e^u and sqrt(u), but notes the complexity of solving it.
  • There are mentions of Mathematica's output for the integral, with participants attempting to understand how it arrives at its result.
  • Some participants explore the implications of using complex numbers in the substitution process, particularly with the imaginary unit i.
  • There is a discussion about the properties of the error function and its relation to the integral, with attempts to express the integral in terms of erf and erfi.
  • One participant expresses progress in deriving a relationship involving the integral and the error function, while questioning the calculation of erf for imaginary arguments.
  • Another participant corrects a misunderstanding regarding the relationship between erf and erfi.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the solvability of the integral or the best approach to take. Multiple competing views and methods are presented, with ongoing debate about the use of substitutions and the properties of special functions.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the complexity of the integral and the potential for non-elementary forms. There are unresolved questions regarding the behavior of the error function for imaginary arguments and the conditions under which certain substitutions are valid.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying advanced calculus, particularly in the context of integrals involving logarithmic functions and special functions in mathematical analysis.

rebeka
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does anybody know the antiderivative of 1/(sqrt(lnx - (a constant))
 
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Try substituting u = lnx.
 
i don't think it is possible to solve that problem. could be wrong though
 
Hmmm, the substitution u= ln(x)- C, along the lines Icebreaker suggested, changes the integral to [tex]\int\frac{e^{u+C}du}{\sqrt{u}}[/tex] but I don't see any simple way to do that.

In fact, the "obvious" substitution [tex]u= \sqrt{ln(x)- C}[/tex] converts the
integral to [tex]2e^C\int e^{u^2}du[/tex] which has no elementary antiderivative!
 
Your task, should you choose to accept it, is to show how Mathematica comes up with the following:

[tex]\int \frac{dx}{\sqrt{ln(x)-c}}=-\frac{e^{c}\sqrt{\pi}\left(1-Erf\left[\sqrt{c-ln(x)}\right]\right)\sqrt{-c+ln(x)}}{\sqrt{c-ln(x)}}[/tex]

I'll try too.
 
Last edited:
saltydog said:
Your task, should you choose to accept it, is to show how Mathematica comes up with the following:
You can verify the result if you like by showing the derivatives of each side are equal. Seeing how Mathematica comes up with it though is much harder and not very helpful. Mathematica does not do integral like a person would. If Integrate had a ShowSteps option what you would see would likely be ridiculuously long and complicated.
On the verification front
the substitution u=i Sqrt(log(x)-C) gives
[tex]\int \frac{1}{\sqrt{\log(x)-C}}dx=-2i e^c\int e^{-u^2}du[/tex]
Thus all that is needed to bridge to the mathematica result is to use (under suitable conditions)
sqrt(C-log(x))=i sqrt(log(x)-C)
 
Last edited:
lurflurf said:
You can verify the result if you like by showing the derivatives of each side are equal. Seeing how Mathematica comes up with it though is much harder and not very helpful. Mathematica does not do integral like a person would. If Integrate had a ShowSteps option what you would see would likely be ridiculuously long and complicated.

Hello Lurflurf. The destination is not the objective but rather the journey. :smile:

"Equal rights for special functions." :smile:
 
Of course erf's evil brother erfi could also be used.
 
lurflurf said:
On the verification front
the substitution u=i Sqrt(log(x)-C) gives
[tex]\int \frac{1}{\sqrt{\log(x)-C}}dx=-2i e^c\int e^{-u^2}du[/tex]
Thus all that is needed to bridge to the mathematica result is to use (under suitable conditions)
sqrt(C-log(x))=i sqrt(log(x)-C)

Thanks Lurflurf. That's very helpful cus' I wasn't getting anywhere in the Real world. Still not happening for me but I'll continue working on it . . . it's a pleasant ride. :smile:
 
  • #10
I'm making progress with this. Using Lurflurf's substitution, I obtain:

[tex]\int \frac{dx}{\sqrt{ln(x)-c}}=-2i e^c \int e^{-u^2}du,\quad u(x)=i\sqrt{ln(x)-c}[/tex]

Since:

[tex]Erf(t)=\frac{2}{\sqrt{\pi}}\int e^{-t^2}dt[/tex]

Then:

[tex]\int e^{-t^2}dt=\frac{\sqrt{\pi}}{2}Erf(t)[/tex]

Thus:

[tex]\int \frac{dx}{\sqrt{ln(x)-c}}dx=-i e^c\sqrt{\pi} Erf \left[i\sqrt{ln(x)-c}\right][/tex]

Now, as long as [itex]c\leq ln(x)[/itex],

[tex]Erf\left[i\sqrt{ln(x)-c}\right][/tex]

will be a pure complex number (prove?) and thus the integral will be a positive real number.

I don't know how to calculate (numerical or otherwise) the value of erf(ai). Can someone please show me?

[tex]Erf[ia]=?[/tex]
 
  • #11
saltydog said:
I'm making progress with this. Using Lurflurf's substitution, I obtain:

[tex]\int \frac{dx}{\sqrt{ln(x)-c}}=-2i e^c \int e^{-u^2}du,\quad u(x)=i\sqrt{ln(x)-c}[/tex]

Since:

[tex]Erf(t)=\frac{2}{\sqrt{\pi}}\int e^{-t^2}dt[/tex]

Then:

[tex]\int e^{-t^2}dt=\frac{\sqrt{\pi}}{2}Erf(t)[/tex]

Thus:

[tex]\int \frac{dx}{\sqrt{ln(x)-c}}dx=-i e^c\sqrt{\pi} Erf \left[i\sqrt{ln(x)-c}\right][/tex]

Now, as long as [itex]c\leq ln(x)[/itex],

[tex]Erf\left[i\sqrt{ln(x)-c}\right][/tex]

will be a pure complex number (prove?) and thus the integral will be a positive real number.

I don't know how to calculate (numerical or otherwise) the value of erf(ai). Can someone please show me?

[tex]Erf[ia]=?[/tex]

Alright, I got it by considering the Riemann sum:

[tex]Erf(ia)=\frac{2}{\sqrt{\pi}}\int_0^{ia} e^{-t^2}dt=\frac{2i}{\sqrt{\pi}}\int_0^a e^{t^2}dt[/tex]

Thus, applying this to the problem above we have:

[tex]\int \frac{dx}{\sqrt{ln(x)-c}}=-ie^c\sqrt{\pi} Erf \left[ i\sqrt{ln(x)-c}\right][/tex]

Now:

[tex] \begin{align*}<br /> Erf \left[i\sqrt{ln(x)-c}\right]&=\frac{2}{\sqrt{\pi}}\int_0^{i\sqrt{ln(x)-c}} e^{-t^2}dt \\<br /> &=\frac{2i}{\sqrt{\pi}}\int_0^{\sqrt{ln(x)-c}} e^{t^2}dt<br /> \end{align}[/tex]

Thus we finally have:

[tex]\int \frac{dx}{\sqrt{ln(x)-c}}=2e^c\int_0^{\sqrt{ln(x)-c}} e^{t^2}dt[/tex]
 
Last edited:
  • #12
saltydog said:
Thus we finally have:

[tex]\int \frac{dx}{\sqrt{ln(x)-c}}=2e^c\int_0^{\sqrt{ln(x)-c}} e^{t^2}dt[/tex]

Well, wait. That's just substituting a tough integral for a more-tough one. So, let's do this:

Let:

[tex]Sa[x,c]=\int_0^{\sqrt{ln(x)-c}} e^{t^2}dt;\quad x>0\quad\text{and}\quad ln(x)\geq c[/tex]

Then:

[tex]\int \frac{dx}{\sqrt{ln(x)-c}}=2e^cSa(x,c)[/tex]

See, that's much better. :smile:
 
  • #13
saltydog said:
I don't know how to calculate (numerical or otherwise) the value of erf(ai). Can someone please show me?

[tex]Erf[ia]=?[/tex]
Your to quick but I'll say this anyway.
[tex]erf(i a)=-i erfi(a)=-i\frac{2}{\sqrt{\pi}}\int_0^a e^{z^2} dz[/tex]
for fun put the integral into mathematica differently and try to get a result in terms of erfi.
like
integral=exp(C)sqrt(pi)efi(sqrt(x))
Also when trying to get the same form as mathematica
u=i sqrt(log(x)-C)=sqrt(-log(x)+C)
 
Last edited:
  • #14
lurflurf said:
Your to quick but I'll say this anyway.
[tex]erf(i a)=-i erfi(a)=-i\frac{2}{\sqrt{\pi}}\int_0^a e^{z^2} dz[/tex]
for fun put the integral into mathematica differently and try to get a result in terms of erfi.
like
integral=exp(C)sqrt(pi)efi(sqrt(x))
Also when trying to get the same form as mathematica
u=i sqrt(log(x)-C)=sqrt(-log(x)+C)

I don't think it's a minus i right? That is:

[tex]erf[i a]=\frac{2i}{\sqrt{\pi}}\int_0^a e^{z^2} dz[/tex]

I mean you're better at this than me. :smile:
 
  • #15
saltydog said:
I don't think it's a minus i right? That is:

[tex]erf[i a]=\frac{2i}{\sqrt{\pi}}\int_0^a e^{z^2} dz[/tex]
Drats I was thinking sdrawkcab.
erf(i a)=i erfi(a)
I mixed that up with
erfi(a)=-i erf(i a)
to produce the error.
 

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