How can I integrate (x-2)ln(3x) using the integration by parts formula?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves integrating the expression (x - 2)ln(3x) using the integration by parts formula. Participants are exploring the challenges associated with integrating natural logarithms and the application of integration techniques.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the choice of functions for integration by parts, questioning the correctness of their selections for f(x), f'(x), g'(x), and g(x). There are inquiries about the placement of parentheses and the implications of sign errors in their calculations.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing feedback on each other's approaches and clarifying steps in the integration process. Some have offered hints regarding potential errors and suggested reviewing the integration by parts rule. There is no explicit consensus on the correct approach yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating issues related to the clarity of their expressions, particularly concerning the use of parentheses and the interpretation of their integration steps. There is an acknowledgment of potential errors in their workings, but no definitive resolution has been reached.

benedwards2020
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I'm having real problems integrating a natural log. The problem I have been set is (where S = integration sign)

S (x - 2) Ln(3x)

I'm trying to use the integration by parts rule but keep getting the wrong answer and I think it might be to do with the natural log. I have used

f(x) = Ln(3x) f'(x) = 1/x g'(x) = (x - 2) and g(x) = 1/2x^2 - 2x

Using the integration by parts formula, I end up with

Ln(3x) * x^2/2 - 2x + S1/2x - 2x

The answer is wrong... Can someone help me out here... Where am I going wrong?
 
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observe that
[tex]\int \log(x) dx= -x +x \log(x)[/tex] from integration by parts and
[tex]\int x\log(x) dx=-x^2/4+ x^2 \log(x)/2[/tex] also from integration by parts

just check you workings again.
 
Use parentheses where needed! Like what is 1/2x? Is it (1/2)*x or 1/(2*x)? But check again what the product f'(x)*g(x) is.
 
benedwards2020 said:
Using the integration by parts formula, I end up with

Ln(3x) * x^2/2 - 2x + S1/2x - 2x

The answer is wrong... Can someone help me out here... Where am I going wrong?

Watch your parentheses and review the integration by parts rule. Hint: You have a sign error.
 
Am I right in assuming that I am to use the integration by parts method and the values that I have chosen for f(x), f'(x), g'(x) & g(x) are correct?

Apologies for the parenthesis error... I'm trying to learn how to use the equation package...
 
Ok, here's a go at using Latex... Hope this makes what I'm doing a bit clearer...

Right, From the initial problem

[tex]\int (x - 2) \ln(3x)[/tex] I have used


[tex]f(x) = \ln(3x) \ f'(x) = \frac{1}{x} \ g(x) = \frac{1}{2}x^2 - 2x \ g'(x) = (x - 2)[/tex]

By using the integration by parts formula, I have


[tex]\ln(3x) \times \frac{1}{2}x^2 -2x - \int \frac{1}{x} \times \frac{1}{2} x^2-2x[/tex]

Am I right in saying this up to now?
 
Last edited:
benedwards2020 said:
[tex]\ln(3x) \left[\frac{1}{2}x^2 -2x\right] - \int \frac{1}{x} \left[ \frac{1}{2} x^2-2x\right] dx[/tex]

With the brackets in, it's correct.
 
Last edited:
So we have

[tex]\int \frac{1}{x} \left[ \frac{1}{2}x^2 - 2x \right] dx \longrightarrow \frac{1}{4}x^2 - 2x[/tex]

to give us

[tex]\ln(3x) \left[ \frac{1}{2}x^2 - 2x \right] - \left[ \frac{1}{4}x^2 - 2x \right][/tex]

Does this look ok? I think that maybe this is where I'm going wrong... However, I suspect my brackets were in the wrong place...
 
Last edited:
Looks good to me.
 
  • #10
you know, it seems like you got the help you needed

but here's a suggestion

couldn't you distribute (ln 3x)

then integrate both separately

you would still have to use integration by parts

but it would be easier to deal with
 

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