Focusing on the I in I don't want to do this anymore

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    Expansion Integral
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the evaluation of the integral $$ \int \frac{x^4}{(4-x^2)} dx $$ using various mathematical techniques, including polynomial long division and partial fraction decomposition. Participants explore different approaches and notations while attempting to simplify the expression and arrive at a solution.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant initiates the discussion by applying polynomial long division to transform the integral into a more manageable form.
  • Another participant suggests that the notation used in the transformation may lead to confusion, particularly regarding the application of the constant '16' to the terms in the integral.
  • Several participants provide their own evaluations of the integral, with differing expressions for the final result, indicating various interpretations of the steps involved.
  • Some participants express uncertainty about the correctness of the transformations and simplifications made, particularly regarding the signs and the application of constants.
  • There is a recurring emphasis on the importance of clean notation to avoid errors in mathematical expressions.
  • One participant questions the relevance of the thread being revisited after several months, suggesting that the original poster may have already resolved the problem.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the correct final expression for the integral. There are multiple competing views regarding the application of constants and the correctness of the transformations, leading to an unresolved discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some participants highlight potential errors in notation and the implications of these errors on the final result. There is an acknowledgment of the complexity involved in the steps taken to evaluate the integral, with various assumptions made throughout the discussion.

karush
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w8.5.2
$$ \int \frac{x^4}{(4-x^2)} dx
\implies -\int\frac{x^4}{(x^2-4)} dx
$$
by division
$$\displaystyle\int\dfrac{16}{x^2-4}+x^2+4 \ dx
\implies 16\int \frac{1}{(x+2)(x-2)}+ x^2+4 \ dx $$
$$\frac{1}{(x+2)(x-2)}=\frac{A}{x+2}+\frac{B}{x-2}
\displaystyle = -\dfrac{1}{4\left(x+2\right)}+\dfrac{1}{4\left(x-2\right)}
$$
so now we have
$$-\frac{1}{4}\int\dfrac{1}{x+2} dx
\ \ + \ \frac{1}{4}\int\dfrac{1}{x-2} dx
\ \ +\int {x}^{2} \ dx
+ \int 4 \ dx $$
just seeing if going down the right trail...
 
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karush said:
w8.5.2
$$ \int \frac{x^4}{(4-x^2)} dx
\implies -\int\frac{x^4}{(x^2-4)} dx
$$
by division
$$\displaystyle\int\dfrac{16}{x^2-4}+x^2+4 \ dx
\implies 16\int \frac{1}{(x+2)(x-2)}+ x^2+4 \ dx $$
$$\frac{1}{(x+2)(x-2)}=\frac{A}{x+2}+\frac{B}{x-2}
\displaystyle = -\dfrac{1}{4\left(x+2\right)}+\dfrac{1}{4\left(x-2\right)}
$$
so now we have
$$-\frac{1}{4}\int\dfrac{1}{x+2} dx
\ \ + \ \frac{1}{4}\int\dfrac{1}{x-2} dx
\ \ +\int {x}^{2} \ dx
+ \int 4 \ dx $$
just seeing if going down the right trail...

Yes it's fine, keep going :)
 
$$
\displaystyle
16\left[
-\frac{\ln\left({\left| x-2 \right|}\right)}{4}
+\frac{\ln\left({\left| x+2 \right|}\right)}{4} \right]
+\frac{{x}^{3}}{3}
+4x
$$
Simplify
$$
\displaystyle
4\ln\left({\left| x+2 \right|}\right)
- 4\ln\left({\left| x-2 \right|}\right)
+\frac{{x}^{3}}{3}
+4x
+C
$$
I hope😍
 
As you originally negated everything in the first step, I think you need the negative of this as your answer.
 
What was inside the brackets got turned around making the leading term positive
 
Prove It said:
Yes it's fine, keep going :)

No, it's not fine. The '16' is not applied to $x^2+4$ as the notation used implies. Sorry to nitpick but clean notation helps to avoid errors and improves marks. In my opinion it is an area were the OP could stand to make a substantial improvement. :)
 
greg1313 said:
No, it's not fine. The '16' is not applied to $x^2+4$ as the notation used implies. Sorry to nitpick but clean notation helps to avoid errors and improves marks. In my opinion it is an area were the OP could stand to make a substantial improvement. :)

I'm not sure why an eight month old thread has been bumped in the first place, I'm sure in that time the OP has already completed the problem, and probably the course it was from :P
 
$\textsf{Evaluate using decomposition}$
\begin{align}
I_{02}&=\int \frac{x^4}{(4-x^2)} dx \\
&=-4\int \frac{1}{x+2} \, dx +4\int\frac{1}{x-2}+\int x^2 \, dx + 4\int 1 \, dx \\
\\
&=-4\ln{|x+2|}+4\ln{|x-2|}+\frac{x^3}{3}+4x+C
\end{align}

How dis...:cool:
 
karush said:
$\textsf{Evaluate using decomposition}$
\begin{align}
I_{02}&=\int \frac{x^4}{(4-x^2)} dx \\
&=-4\int \frac{1}{x+2} \, dx +4\int\frac{1}{x-2}+\int x^2 \, dx + 4\int 1 \, dx \\
\\
&=-4\ln{|x+2|}+4\ln{|x-2|}+\frac{x^3}{3}+4x+C
\end{align}

How dis...:cool:

Let's just end this...

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \int{ \frac{x^4}{4 - x^2} \, \mathrm{d}x } &= -\int{ \frac{x^4}{x^2 - 4} \, \mathrm{d}x } \\ &= -\int{ \frac{ x^4 - 4\,x^2 + 4\,x^2 }{ x^2 - 4 } \, \mathrm{d}x } \\ &= -\int{ \left( \frac{ x^4 - 4\,x^2 }{ x^2 - 4 } + \frac{ 4\,x^2 }{ x^2 - 4 } \right) \,\mathrm{d}x } \\ &= -\int{ \left[ \frac{ x^2 \, \left( x^2 - 4 \right) }{x^2 - 4} + \frac{4\,x^2}{ x^2 - 4 } \right] \, \mathrm{d}x } \\ &= - \int{ \left( x^2 + \frac{4\,x^2}{x^2 - 4} \right) \,\mathrm{d}x } \\ &= -\int{ \left( x^2 + \frac{4\,x^2 - 16 + 16}{ x^2 - 4} \right) \,\mathrm{d}x } \\ &= -\int{ \left( x^2 + \frac{4\,x^2 - 16}{x^2 - 4} + \frac{16}{x^2 - 4} \right) \,\mathrm{d}x } \\ &= -\int{ \left[ x^2 + \frac{4\,\left( x^2 - 4 \right) }{x^2 - 4} + \frac{16}{x^2 - 4} \right] \,\mathrm{d}x } \\ &= -\int{ \left( x^2 + 4 + \frac{16}{x^2 - 4} \right) \,\mathrm{d}x } \\ &= -\int{ \left[ x^2 + 4 + \frac{16}{\left( x - 2 \right) \left( x + 2 \right) } \right] \,\mathrm{d}x } \end{align*}$

Now applying partial fractions:

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \frac{A}{x - 2} + \frac{B}{x + 2} &\equiv \frac{16}{\left( x - 2 \right) \left( x + 2 \right) } \\ A \,\left( x + 2 \right) + B \,\left( x - 2 \right) &\equiv 16 \end{align*}$

Let $\displaystyle \begin{align*} x = -2 \end{align*}$ to find $\displaystyle \begin{align*} -4\,B = 16 \implies B = -4 \end{align*}$.

Let $\displaystyle \begin{align*} x = 2 \end{align*}$ to find $\displaystyle \begin{align*} 4\,A = 16 \implies A = 4 \end{align*}$, giving

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} -\int{ \left[ x^2 + 4 + \frac{16}{ \left( x - 2 \right) \left( x + 2 \right) } \right] \,\mathrm{d}x } &= -\int{ \left( x^2 + 4 + \frac{4}{x - 2} - \frac{4}{x + 2} \right) \,\mathrm{d}x } \\ &= - \left( \frac{x^3}{3} + 4\,x + 4\ln{ \left| x - 2 \right| } - 4\ln{ \left| x + 2 \right| } \right) + C \\ &= 4\ln{ \left| x + 2 \right| } - 4\ln{ \left| x - 2 \right| } - \frac{x^3}{3} - 4\,x + C \end{align*}$
 

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