Calc II: integration of x arctan x

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the integration of the function x arctan x, specifically focusing on the technique of integration by parts. Participants are exploring the correct application of this method to arrive at the integral of the expression.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts integration by parts with different choices for u and dv, leading to confusion about signs and terms. Some participants question the assumptions made regarding the relationship between tangent and arctangent, while others discuss the algebraic manipulation of terms to match a known answer.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing insights and corrections regarding the integration process and assumptions. There is a recognition of potential mistakes in sign handling and algebraic manipulation, but no consensus has been reached on the final outcome.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of a homework assignment that requires specific techniques for integration, and there is a noted confusion regarding the definitions and relationships between trigonometric functions and their inverses.

Pythagorean
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so, I know the integration by formula for this, since it's in my handy book of formulas, but I'm required to do this by parts, and then use a technique from the lesson to integrate it further.

The problem: [tex]\int \,x \arctan \,x \,dx[/tex]

(i'm assuming tan to the negative first power is the same as arctan)

the answer: [tex]\frac{1+x^2}{2}arctan x - \frac{x}{2}[/tex]

My process so far:

I first looked at dividing by parts with u=x and dv= arctan x dx. That got really messy trying to integrate tan, so I flipped them over.

What erks me is I don't feel like I'm violating any rules, I'm just getting a different answer.

So I set u=arctan x and dv= x dx
so [itex]du=\frac{1}{x^2+1}[/itex] and [itex]v= \frac{1}{2}x^2[/itex]

which leaves me with:

(using uv - [itex]\int[/itex]dvu)

[tex]\frac{1}{2}x^2 arctan x - \frac{1}{2}\int \frac{x^2}{x^2+1}[/tex]

I use long division on that last term so that I have:

[tex]\int 1 - \frac{1}{x^2+1}[/tex]

which results in

[tex]\frac{1}{2}x^2 arctan x - \frac{1}{2}arctan x - \frac{1}{2}x[/tex]
 
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I get a positive sign for the middle term.
 
how does that help me get closer to the answer? I see my mistake of not carrying the - sign, but I'm still not quite sure how arctan adds up and substracts...
 
Assumption

If I understand "tan to the negative first power" correctly, and if I'm not mistaking, your assumption is not correct:
(tan x)^-1 does not equal arctan x.
(tan x)^-1=(sin x / cos x)^-1=cos x / sin x=cot x
 
i understood arctan as the inverse of tan, which can't be found by simply switching the fractions, that would just be cotangent, not tan to the negative first power. This is my understanding...

I'm more concerned with how to manipulate arcsin terms so that I can get an answer that looks like the books answer.
 
I agree.
Well, if you get a positive sign for the middle term, then you have the right answer, don't you?
 
that seems to be what Tide implied.

I manipulated it algebraically and it appears correct. But when you already know the answer, you tend to manipulate in your favor. I'll double check.

Thanks everyone for your help
 
What are you talking about with this algebraic manipulation??

You simply add like terms...

x^2/2 + 1/2 = (1 + x^2)/2

(remember fractions...add the numerators, keep the denominator)

and (1/2)x is the same as x/2

I don't see where the algebraic manipulation comes into play?
 

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