Integral of 2t / (16t^4 + 1) - Need Help Solving!

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Find the integral...Please HELP!

Homework Statement


Find the integral...
2t / (16t^4 + 1)


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


I am stuck on this problem...I have tried long division but that didn't work out for me. I don't know how to solve this.
 
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Long division should be reserved for improper fractions.

\int\frac{2t}{(4t^2)^2+1}

Can you take it from here?
 
oh ok so i can use u substitution
u = 4t^2
du = 8t dt
1/4du = 2t
1/4 ln (4t^2)^2 + 1
is that right?
 
You're substitutions were right. But that is not correct.

\frac 1 4 \int \frac{du}{u^2+1}
 
On my paper it says hint: use inverse trig functions. But I don't know how to use one of them because they don't resemble that.
 
Keep searching! It's very common! Sine, Cosine, or Tangent.
 
I can't use arctan because on the bottom it is a^2 + u^2 and u has to have the x in it right?
 
It doesn't matter! You used a substitution and swapped variables.

a, is simply a constant.

\int\frac{dx}{x^2+a^2}=\int\frac{du}{u^2+1^2}
 
oh ok so I have...
1/4 *1/1 arctan |4t^2| / 1 + C
1/4 Arctan |4t^2| + C
 
  • #10
Good!
 
  • #11
oh yay thanks!
One more question...
how do you find the integral of something with dx on top like...
dx / (x^2 - 4x + 20)
 
  • #12
It doesn't matter what variables you're using, just pay attention to what you're Integrating with respects to and treat the others as constants.

\int\frac{dx}{x^2-4x+20}

Try completing the square.
 
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  • #13
I get...
(x^2 - 4x + 4) - 4 + 20
(x - 2)^2 + 16
 
  • #14
What does this Integral look like?

\int\frac{dx}{(x-2)^2+16}

If you don't plan on using an Integral table, factor out a 16 from the denominator b/c you need a constant of 1.
 
  • #15
how do i factor out 16?? and why do I need a constant of 1?? I am so confused and I don't know why...I did all of the homework just fine.
 
  • #16
B/c before you can integrate this integral, you need to have it in the form similar to ...

\int\frac{dx}{x^2+1}

Rather than factoring out a 16, divide both numerator & denominator by 16.
 
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  • #17
Can anyone help me with this problem...I have a test Thursday and I am freaking out because I thought I understood this stuff!
 
  • #18
\int\frac{dx}{(x-2)^2+16}

To factor out a 16 ...

\frac{1}{16}\int\frac{dx}{\frac{(x-2)^2}{16}+1}

\frac{1}{16}\int\frac{dx}{\left(\frac{x-2}{4}\right)^2+1}
 
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  • #19
Is there any other way to solve this problem? I am only asking because we have never done anything like that in class or on any homework and I find it hard to believe our teacher giving us something we haven't done before. So I was just curious if there was another solution?
 
  • #20
It's no different from any of your other problems? You should be able to handle problems that are not 100% similar to what you have done b4. It's basically the integral of arctan.

Completing the square and factoring is something you learned prior to Calculus, so those 2 initial steps should not bother you.
 
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