How Do You Solve the Integral of 3x/(4x-1)?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around solving the integral of the function 3x/(4x-1). Participants explore various methods of integration, including substitution and partial fraction decomposition, while sharing their approaches and results.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses difficulty in solving the integral and seeks assistance.
  • Another participant provides a detailed solution using a method that involves rewriting the integrand and integrating term by term.
  • A third participant questions whether partial fraction decomposition was used in the solution provided.
  • A different approach is presented using substitution, where participants define u = 4x - 1 and derive the integral accordingly.
  • There is a discussion about the equivalence of results obtained through different methods, with one participant affirming the correctness of another's substitution method.
  • Participants note that both methods yield equivalent forms of the integral, though they express this in different ways.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

While participants share different methods and confirm the correctness of each other's approaches, there is no explicit consensus on a single preferred method for solving the integral. Multiple competing views and methods remain present in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some participants' solutions involve algebraic simplifications that may not be fully detailed, and there are unresolved aspects regarding the integration techniques used. The discussion reflects various interpretations of the integral's solution.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in integral calculus, particularly those exploring different methods of integration and the nuances of mathematical reasoning in problem-solving.

Yankel
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Hello

I am trying to solve the integral of the function:

3x/(4x-1)

Need some help with it, I am stuck...

Thanks !
 
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Yankel said:
Hello

I am trying to solve the integral of the function:

3x/(4x-1)

Need some help with it, I am stuck...

Thanks !

[math]\displaystyle \begin{align*} \int{\frac{3x}{4x-1}\,dx} &= \frac{3}{4}\int{\frac{4x}{4x-1}\,dx} \\ &= \frac{3}{4}\int{\frac{4x-1 + 1}{4x - 1}\,dx} \\ &= \frac{3}{4}\int{1 + \frac{1}{4x-1}\,dx} \\ &= \frac{3}{4} \left( x + \frac{1}{4}\ln{ | 4x - 1 | } \right) + C \end{align*}[/math]
 
Prove It said:
[math]\displaystyle \begin{align*} \int{\frac{3x}{4x-1}\,dx} &= \frac{3}{4}\int{\frac{4x}{4x-1}\,dx} \\ &= \frac{3}{4}\int{\frac{4x-1 + 1}{4x - 1}\,dx} \\ &= \frac{3}{4}\int{1 + \frac{1}{4x-1}\,dx} \\ &= \frac{3}{4} \left( x + \frac{1}{4}\ln{ | 4x - 1 | } \right) + C \end{align*}[/math]

did you use partial fraction here?
 
letting u = 4x-1, u+1/4 = x
getting the derivative of u, du = 4dx, dx = 1du/4

now plug those values
∫{[3(u+1)/4]/4u]}du
∫[(3u+3)/16u]du
3/16(∫du+∫1/u*du)

3/16*u+3/16*ln|u|+c

3/16*(4x-1)+3/16*ln|4x-1| --- this is what i get when i use substitution method. am I correct?
 
paulmdrdo said:
did you use partial fraction here?

Yes, it can be thought of as a partial fraction decomposition of \(\frac{4x}{4x-1}\). An easy method to find the partial fractions in this case is the technique used by Prove It; writing the numerator as \(4x-1+1\).

paulmdrdo said:
letting u = 4x-1, u+1/4 = x
getting the derivative of u, du = 4dx, dx = 1du/4

now plug those values
∫{[3(u+1)/4]/4u]}du
∫[(3u+3)/16u]du
3/16(∫du+∫1/u*du)

3/16*u+3/16*ln|u|+c

3/16*(4x-1)+3/16*ln|4x-1| --- this is what i get when i use substitution method. am I correct?

Yes, your method is perfect. Note that after a few algebraic simplifications you arrive at the same result obtained by Prove It. :)

\[\frac{3}{16}(4x-1)+\frac{3}{16}\ln|4x-1|+C=\frac{3}{4}\left(x+\frac{1}{4}\ln|4x-1|\right)+C-\frac{3}{16}\]

\(A=C-\frac{3}{16}\) is an arbitrary constant. Therefore,

\[\frac{3}{16}(4x-1)+\frac{3}{16}\ln|4x-1|+C=\frac{3}{4}\left(x+\frac{1}{4}\ln|4x-1|\right)+A\]
 
What I would have done, equivalent to what Prove It and Sudharaka did, is let u= 4x- 1, the denominator. Then 4x= u+ 1 and x= (u+1)/4 and du= 4dx so that dx= (1/4)du.

The integral becomes
\int \frac{3\frac{u+1}{4}}{u}(du/4)= \frac{3}{16}\int \frac{u+1}{u}du= \frac{3}{16}\int 1+ \frac{1}{u}du
 

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