Antiderivative involving a radical

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves finding the antiderivative of the expression \(\int\frac{1}{(x+1)^2}\sqrt{\frac{x}{1-x}}{\rm{d}}x\), which includes a radical and a rational function. The discussion centers around techniques for integration, particularly in the context of substitution and partial fractions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore various substitution methods, including a radical substitution and potential trigonometric substitutions. Some express confusion about the applicability of partial fractions due to the presence of the square root. Others suggest alternative substitutions to simplify the expression.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants sharing their attempts and reasoning. Some have made progress with substitutions and are considering different integration techniques, while others are questioning the effectiveness of certain methods like partial fractions. No consensus has been reached, but several productive lines of inquiry are being explored.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the complexity introduced by the square root and the challenges it poses for traditional integration techniques. There are also mentions of specific values and equations that arise during the exploration of partial fractions.

nuuskur
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Homework Statement


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

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


Utterly perplexed. Have no ideas how to do this one. Did try bringing the entire thing under square root and try partial fractions, but the entire thing is modified by the square root. I can't integrate the sum separately or anything.
Integration by parts is even more devastating and more incomprehensible. Not sure how to proceed. Is there a cunning substitution to be made? Hints, please.
Thanks
 
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Partial fractions aren't recommended because of the square root.

Since you have various powers of linear terms in x, have you tried u-substitution?
 
Alright, I managed this so far:
substituting the radical for u:
[tex]u = \sqrt{\frac{x}{1-x}} \Rightarrow x = \frac{u^2}{u^2 +1}, {\rm{d}}x = \frac{2u}{(u^2 +1)^2}{\rm{d}}u[/tex]
resulting in
[tex]\int\frac{2u^2}{(2u^2 + 1)^2}{\rm{d}}u[/tex]
adding 1 and -1 in the numerator:
[tex]\int\frac{{\rm{d}}u}{2u^2 + 1} - \int\frac{{\rm{d}}u}{(2u^2 + 1)^2}[/tex]
The first one is ok, but the second integral is troublesome. Partial fractions yield no result.
 
I would have tried something like u = 1 + x or u = 1 - x, rather than mess with the radical as a whole.
 
My thought process went along the lines of "get rid of the square root, somehow". How will I be able to integrate the second integral I wound up with? I feel like I'm on the right track.
EDIT: Right as I posted, I thought about trigonometric substitution. To be continued..
 
I don't know why you say "partial fractions" doesn't work. They usual "partial fractions" format says that we can write this as
[tex]\frac{1}{(u^2+ 1)^2}= \frac{Au+ B}{u^2+ 1}+ \frac{Cu+ D}{(u^2+ 1)^2}[/tex]
There are a number of different ways to solve for A, B, C, and D. Perhaps the simplest is to multiply both sides by [tex](u^2+ 1)^2[/tex] to get
[tex]1= (Au+ B)(u^2+ 1)+ Cu+ D[/tex]
This must be true for all u. Setting u to 4 different values will give 4 different equations to solve for A, B, C, and D.
Setting u= 0, B+ D= 1.
Setting u= 1, 2A+ 2B+ C+ D= 1.
Setting u= -1, -2A+2B- 2C+ D= 1.
Setting u= 2, 10A+ 5B+ 2C+ D= 1.

Solve those four equations for A, B, C, and D. I would start by adding the last two equation to get an equation with only A, B, and D in it, then Add twice the second equation to get another equation with only A, B, and D. Combine those two equations to eliminate A. Combine that equation, with only B and D, with B+ D= 1, to eliminate either B or D.
 
Managed to figure it out: In the second integral i can substitute
[tex]\tan{t} = \sqrt{2}u , \frac{{\rm{d}}t}{\cos^2{t}} = \sqrt{2}{\rm{d}}u\\ \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\int\frac{{\rm{d}}t}{(\tan^2{t}+1)^2 \cos^2{t}}[/tex]
[itex]\tan^2{x} +1 = \frac{1}{\cos^2{x}}[/itex] so we get that it is:
[tex]\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\int \cos^2{t}{\rm{d}}t[/tex]which is a piece of cake.

Thank you HallsofIvy, I will try your suggestion aswell, I must have done something wrong when I tried partial fractions.
 
HallsofIvy said:
I don't know why you say "partial fractions" doesn't work. They usual "partial fractions" format says that we can write this as
[tex]\frac{1}{(u^2+ 1)^2}= \frac{Au+ B}{u^2+ 1}+ \frac{Cu+ D}{(u^2+ 1)^2}[/tex]

That doesn't seem likely to get anywhere since A=B=C=0, D=1 is the original problem.
 
nuuskur said:
Alright, I managed this so far:
substituting the radical for u:
[tex]u = \sqrt{\frac{x}{1-x}} \Rightarrow x = \frac{u^2}{u^2 +1}, {\rm{d}}x = \frac{2u}{(u^2 +1)^2}{\rm{d}}u[/tex]
resulting in
[tex]\int\frac{2u^2}{(2u^2 + 1)^2}{\rm{d}}u[/tex]

You can now factor the integrand as [tex] \int u \frac{2u}{(2u^2 + 1)^2}\,du[/tex] and integrate by parts.
 

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