Evaluate Integral: 2 ln| \frac{v-1}{v}|

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Homework Statement


evaluate the integral.


Homework Equations


\displaystyle\int_2^∞ {\frac{2}{v^2 -v} dv}


The Attempt at a Solution


how does this integrate into:

2 ln| \frac{v-1}{v}|

i tried and got 2ln|v^2-v| but not above.
 
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whatlifeforme said:

Homework Statement


evaluate the integral.


Homework Equations


\displaystyle\int_2^∞ {\frac{2}{v^2 -v} dv}


The Attempt at a Solution


how does this integrate into:

2 ln| \frac{v-1}{v}|

i tried and got 2ln|v^2-v| but not above.

Did you try factoring and partial fractions?
 
Try simplifying the denominator and using the method of partial fractions. Ahhh beaten to the punch!
 
Also since you know (knew?) the answer, differentiate it and you see what is right and may get some helpful insight and reinforcement.
 
whatlifeforme said:
\displaystyle\int_2^∞ {\frac{2}{v^2 -v} dv}

The Attempt at a Solution


how does this integrate into:

2 ln| \frac{v-1}{v}|

i tried and got 2ln|v^2-v| but not above.

Others have shown you the right way - I'll explain what you did that was wrong.

These are correct:
$$\int \frac{dx}{x} = ln|x| + C$$
$$\int \frac{du}{u} = ln|u| + C~$$

BUT, this is NOT correct:
$$\int \frac{dx}{f(x)} = ln|f(x)| + C$$

This is a very common error among students who are learning calculus.
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
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