Calculus Integration Problem: Need Help from Math Experts!

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a calculus integration problem, specifically focusing on various methods for integrating a function involving square roots and polynomial expressions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss different methods such as variable substitution, completing the square, and partial fraction decomposition. Some express confusion about the validity of certain approaches and question the assumptions made regarding rational functions and square roots.

Discussion Status

The conversation includes multiple perspectives on the integration techniques, with participants sharing their attempts and questioning each other's reasoning. There is no clear consensus, but several participants have offered guidance and alternative methods for consideration.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note constraints related to the validity of the integrand and the intervals for which the square root is defined. Additionally, there are references to homework rules and the challenges of self-study in calculus.

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Math experts please come!

b]1. Homework Statement [/b]

Calculus, integration

Homework Equations


http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/6091/questiontc3.jpg


The Attempt at a Solution



used method:changing variable, by part, trigo etc but no avail.:confused: Please help me solve it, thanks.
 
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SD, Your kidding, right? Didn't your high school math teacher make you do a "time out" whenever misused the square root that way?
 
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Rewrite the argument x^2-x by "completing the square" . "u" substitution follows.
 
rasensuriken said:
b]1. Homework Statement [/b]

Calculus, integration

Homework Equations


http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/6091/questiontc3.jpg


The Attempt at a Solution



used method:changing variable, by part, trigo etc but no avail.:confused: Please help me solve it, thanks.


Did you try a U substition with U = X^2 - X and dU = 2x - 1 dx?
 
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When you meet the problem asking you to integrate something like:
\int \frac{dx}{(ax + b) ^ {m} \sqrt{c x ^ 2 + dx + e}}, what you should do is to let:
ax + b = \frac{1}{t}
--------------------
So, here, we go:
\int \frac{dx}{(2x + 1) \sqrt{x ^ 2 - x}}
For \sqrt{x ^ 2 - x} to be valid, x can only be in the interval ] - \infty ; 0 ] \unity [1 ; + \infty [
Let
2x + 1 = \frac{1}{t} \quad \mbox{or} \quad x = \frac{1}{2} \left( \frac{1}{t} - 1 \right)
\Rightarrow 2dx = -\frac{dt}{t ^ 2}
The integral becomes:
- \int \frac{\frac{dt}{2 t ^ 2}}{\frac{1}{t} \sqrt{ \left[ \frac{1}{2} \left( \frac{1}{t} - 1 \right) \right] ^ 2 - \frac{1}{2} \left( \frac{1}{t} - 1 \right)}}

= - \int \frac{dt}{2t\sqrt{ \left[ \frac{1}{4} \left( \frac{1}{t ^ 2} - \frac{2}{t} + 1 \right) \right] - \left( \frac{1}{2t} - \frac{1}{2} \right)}}

= - \int \frac{dt}{2t\sqrt{\frac{1}{4 t ^ 2} - \frac{1}{t} + \frac{3}{4}}}

= - \int \frac{dt}{t \sqrt{\frac{1}{t ^ 2} - \frac{4}{t} + 3}}

= \pm \int \frac{dt}{\sqrt{1 - 4t + 3 t ^ 2}}
Can you go from here? :)
 
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Forget what I had written here
 
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gammamcc said:
I vote for Man Monkey's approach.

Won't work because the integrand has dx/(2x-1) and not (2x-1)dx.

The best approach here is partial fraction decomp.

Let 1=A(2x-1) + B(x^2-x)^1/2

Set x=1 , A=1
Set x=1/2 , B=2i

Then integrate the new functions 1/(x^2-x)^1/2 and 2i/(2x-1)

EDIT: The function 1/(x^2-x)^1/2 can be broken down further into |x^1/2|(x-1)^1/2 or into ((x-x^1/2)(x+x^1/2))^1/2, though the first of these two should look familiar.
 
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(x^2-x)^(1/2) = x - x^(1/2) is not true. You can check by multiplying the RHS with itself.
 
Schrödinger's Dog said:
What they're equivalent, just trying to help? Thought it might be easier if he got rid of the sqrt.:smile:

\sqrt{4^{2}-4}=\sqrt{16-4}=\sqrt{12}=2=4-\sqrt{4}
Fascinating..
 
  • #10
arildno said:
\sqrt{4^{2}-4}=\sqrt{16-4}=\sqrt{12}=2=4-\sqrt{4}
Fascinating..

OK my bad. I was thinking of \sqrt{x^2} - \sqrt{x}

In my defence I had just finished a long and arduous day at work and wasn't really thinking:eek: sorry.

I deleted it, still the shame lives on... I'll go bury myself under a pile of soil and pretend I'm dead :smile:

For my next trick I'll prove Fermat's last theorem in a new and exciting way whilst drunk :/
 
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  • #11
going with my first reply

Opps, I got fooled. Monkey Man's answer seemed so slick. I now vote for my own approach. It boils down to a constant times integral of
1/(u sqrt(u^2 -a^2))


"complete the square."

I don't trust partial fractions since we don't have a rational function.
 
  • #12
gammamcc said:
I don't trust partial fractions since we don't have a rational function.

Your kidding right? So 1/((2x-1)(x^2-x)^1/2) is not a rational function?
 
  • #13
Nope, It's not. Rational functions are ratios of polynomials.
 
  • #14
So 1/x is no longer rational?
 
  • #15
is too

(no square root in that one)
 
  • #16
what does the square root matter?
 
  • #17
In that case, u=2x-1

1/u(((u+1)2)^2-(u+1)/2)^1/2
 
  • #18
Plastic Photon said:
what does the square root matter?
Look up the definition of a polynomial.
 
  • #19
Thanks vietdao29. Ya i can go from there...I am a form 4 student studying integration on my own. Hope these can help me in form 5 and form 6.
 
  • #20
There is an easier way. I had the quickest way expect that I got diss'ed over partial fractions. You shouldn't have to rely on megaformulas.
 
  • #21
u=\sqrt{x^2-x}
du=\frac{(2x-1)dx}{2\sqrt{x^2-x}}
\int{\frac{dx}{(2x-1)\sqrt{x^2-x}}}=\int{\frac{2du}{(2x-1)^2}}=\int{\frac{2du}{4u^2+1}}
 
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  • #22
I agree except for the last step.
 
  • #23
In case no one was paying attention, see my attachment for the quick way.
 

Attachments

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  • #24
tim_lou said:
u=\sqrt{x^2-x}
du=\frac{(2x-1)dx}{2\sqrt{x^2-x}}
\int{\frac{dx}{(2x-1)\sqrt{x^2-x}}}=\int{\frac{2du}{(2x-1)^2}}=\int{\frac{2du}{4u+1}}

\int{\frac{2du}{(2x-1)^2}}=\int{\frac{2du}{(2u)^2+1}} Very easy now, form of arctan integral.
 
  • #25
I don't agree. Forgetting what "u" is and applying bad algebra. Is anyone reading my attachment?
 
  • #26
We can't. Your attachment is "Pending Approval" by a Mentor to make sure your not a predator give us viruses :)

Bad algebra? Where did he forget what u was?
 
  • #27
gammamcc said:
In case no one was paying attention, see my attachment for the quick way.

that is the solution
 
  • #28
Gib Z said:
Bad algebra? Where did he forget what u was?


Because

u=/sqrt{x^2-x}

{(2x-1)^2}={4x^2}-4x+1={4u^2}+1
 
  • #29
oops, forgot the square...fixed. hehe:biggrin:
 
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  • #30
OK PP. I needed more convincing.
 

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