How Do You Solve the Integral of \( e^{x^4} (x + x^3 + 2x^5) e^{x^2} \, dx \)?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around solving the integral of \( e^{x^4} (x + x^3 + 2x^5) e^{x^2} \, dx \). Participants explore various approaches to the integral, including substitution methods and potential flaws in proposed solutions.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose rewriting the integral as \( \int e^{x^4+x^2} (x+x^3+2x^5) dx \) and suggest a substitution \( e^{x^4+x^2}=t \) to facilitate solving the integral.
  • One participant indicates that the original poster (OP) has already solved the problem and is inviting others to provide a complete solution.
  • Another participant, Dan, claims to have identified a flaw in a previous solution, although the specifics of the flaw are not detailed.
  • Further discussion includes a statement about the necessity of justifying each step in a proof, highlighting a potential misunderstanding regarding implications in mathematical reasoning.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on the correctness of the proposed solutions, as participants express differing views on the validity of the approaches and solutions presented.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not reached a resolution regarding the integral, and there are unresolved questions about the implications of certain mathematical steps and the correctness of the solutions offered.

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$$\displaystyle \int e^{x^4}\left(x+x^3+2x^5\right)\cdot e^{x^2}dx = $$
 
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jacks said:
$$\displaystyle \int e^{x^4}\left(x+x^3+2x^5\right)\cdot e^{x^2}dx = $$

First, write the integral as
$$\int e^{x^4+x^2} (x+x^3+2x^5) dx = $$
Let $e^{x^4+x^2}=t \Rightarrow e^{x^4+x^2}(4x^3+2x)dx = dt$.

EDIT:
Thanks MarkFL, I didn't notice.
 
Last edited:
Siron said:
First, write the integral as
$$\int e^{x^4+x^2} (x+x^3+2x^5) dx = $$
Let $e^{x^4+x^2}=t \Rightarrow e^{x^4+x^2}(4x^3+2x)dx = dt$.

Here in the "Challenge Questions and Puzzles" forum, the OP has already solved the problem, and is posting it as a challenge for others to give a complete solution. :D
 
jacks said:
$$\displaystyle \int e^{x^4}\left(x+x^3+2x^5\right)\cdot e^{x^2}dx = $$

My solution:

Let $\displaystyle I=\int e^{x^2+x^4}\cdot(x+x^3+2x^5)dx$.

We see that

$\begin{align*}\displaystyle I&=\int e^{x^2+x^4}\cdot(x+x^3+2x^5)dx\\&=\dfrac{1}{x^2}\int x^2\cdot e^{x^2+x^4}\cdot(x+x^3+2x^5)dx\\&=\dfrac{1}{x^2}\int e^{\ln x^2+x^2+x^4}\cdot(x+x^3+2x^5)dx---(1)\end{align*}$

If we let $u=e^{\ln x^2+x^2+x^4}$, we get $\dfrac{x^2}{2}du=e^{\ln x^2+x^2+x^4}\cdot(x+x^3+2x^5) dx$.

Replacing this substitution to (1), the integral is then

$\begin{align*}\displaystyle I&=\dfrac{1}{x^2}\int e^{\ln x^2+x^2+x^4}\cdot(x+x^3+2x^5)dx\\&=\dfrac{1}{x^2}\int \dfrac{x^2}{2}du\\&=\int \dfrac{1}{2}du\\&=\frac{u}{2}\\&=\frac{e^{\ln x^2+x^2+x^4}}{2}\end{align*}$

$\therefore I=\dfrac{x^2(e^{x^2+x^4})}{2}$
 
anemone: I think I spotted a flaw in your solution.

You wrote a statement of the form
[math]\int f(x)~dx = \frac{1}{x^2} \int x^2~f(x)~dx[/math]

Under normal circumstances you can't multiply the outside of an integral by a function of x and multiply the inverse of it inside the integral. Or am I wrong in this specific case?

-Dan
 
topsquark said:
anemone: I think I spotted a flaw in your solution.

You wrote a statement of the form
[math]\int f(x)~dx = \frac{1}{x^2} \int x^2~f(x)~dx[/math]

Under normal circumstances you can't multiply the outside of an integral by a function of x and multiply the inverse of it inside the integral. Or am I wrong in this specific case?

-Dan

Hi Dan,
Hmm...but I was just, technically, multiplied a one $\dfrac{\cancel{x^2}}{\cancel{x^2}}=1$ to that integrand...I don't know if that's 100% permissible though. Thus, I stand corrected and I apologize if my solution is wrong.:o
 
My thinking comes in two ways. First if [math]\int f(x)~dx[/math] is a definite integral then [math]\frac{1}{x^2} \int x^2 f(x)~dx[/math] would still depend on x, which would not be correct. As far as an indefinite integral is concerned let's do a simple example:
[math]\int x^3~dx = \frac{x^4}{4} + C[/math]

[math]\int x^3~dx = \frac{1}{x^2} \int x^2 \cdot x^3~dx = \frac{x^4}{6} + C[/math]

So they are not the same. However I don't know enough to say if there are cases where you can do this. I can say, though that the Taylor series of WA's answer about 0 and the Taylor series of your answer about 0 are not the same. So it looks like you can't do it in this case.

-Dan
 
Hi Dan again,

In your second example where [math]\int x^3~dx = \frac{1}{x^2} \int x^2 \cdot x^3~dx = \frac{x^4}{6} + C[/math], you multiplied the antiderivative to the $x^2$ but in my solution, I took care of the multiplier before I started to integrate it on the second time. (Thinking)
 
anemone said:
Hi Dan again,

In your second example where [math]\int x^3~dx = \frac{1}{x^2} \int x^2 \cdot x^3~dx = \frac{x^4}{6} + C[/math], you multiplied the antiderivative to the $x^2$ but in my solution, I took care of the multiplier before I started to integrate it on the second time. (Thinking)

A proof is a set of implications so each step has to be justified.

$$\frac{x^2}{x^2}=1$$

Does not imply that

$$\frac{1}{x^2}\int\,x^2\,dx = x+c $$
 

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