Exponential Integration Question

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the integration of the function involving the natural logarithm and the implications of absolute values in the context of exponential functions. Participants are exploring the relationship between the integral of 1/t and its exponential form, particularly focusing on the treatment of absolute values in the expression e^{ln|t|}.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are questioning why the expression e^{ln|t|} simplifies to t instead of |t|, with some suggesting that the context may assume t to be positive. There is also uncertainty about how to handle absolute values in related differential equations.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants seeking clarification on the treatment of absolute values in the context of exponential functions and integration. Some have suggested that assumptions about the positivity of t may influence the outcome, but no consensus has been reached.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of a differential equation that involves integration factors, which raises additional questions about the role of absolute values in the solution process. The participants express uncertainty about how to proceed without ignoring these functions.

GreenPrint
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Why is [itex]e^{\int \frac{dt}{t}}[/itex] = [itex]e^{ln|t|}[/itex] = t as apposed to |t|? I don't understand what happened to the absolute value operator. Thanks for any help.

I understand that [itex]e^{x}[/itex]>0. Is this the justification? But I don't understand why you can't have a negative t in [itex]e^{ln|t|}[/itex] because you would take the absolute value of a negative number.
 
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GreenPrint said:
Why is [itex]e^{\int \frac{dt}{t}}[/itex] = [itex]e^{ln|t|}[/itex] = t as apposed to |t|?
It should be |t|, as you thought.

It's possible that there is some other context that you're not including, in which t is assumed to be positive. In that case, |t| = t.
GreenPrint said:
I don't understand what happened to the absolute value operator. Thanks for any help.

I understand that [itex]e^{x}[/itex]>0. Is this the justification? But I don't understand why you can't have a negative t in [itex]e^{ln|t|}[/itex] because you would take the absolute value of a negative number.
 
If I had the differential equation

[itex]\frac{dy}{dt}[/itex] + [itex]\frac{y}{t}[/itex] = 5

Then using integration factors

y = [itex]\frac{5∫e^{\int \frac{dt}{t}}dt}{e^{\int \frac{dt}{t}}}[/itex] = [itex]\frac{5∫e^{ln|t|}dt}{e^{ln|t|}}[/itex] = [itex]\frac{5∫|t|dt}{|t|}[/itex]

I'm unsure how to proceed without ignoring the absolute value functions but it appears ignoring them seems to be just fine for whatever reason
 
bump - went onto second page
 

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