How to solve an indefinite integral of a differential equation?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter NEWO
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Formula Integral
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around solving an indefinite integral related to a differential equation. Participants explore various substitution methods and the implications of the integral's structure, focusing on the mathematical reasoning behind their approaches.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents the integral \(\int{\frac{1}{m\log(m/mo)}{dm}=\int{\frac{1}{t}}{dt}\) and requests assistance in solving it.
  • Another suggests a substitution \(u=\log(m/mo)\) to simplify the integral.
  • Some participants express confusion about the nature of the integral, questioning how an indefinite integral can yield a definite answer.
  • There are discussions about the rigor of the substitutions and whether all necessary details have been considered.
  • Several participants propose different substitutions, such as \(m=e^x\), and discuss the implications of these choices on the integral's solvability.
  • One participant notes that the integral can be expressed as \(\int{\frac{e^z dz}{z}}\) and questions the existence of a closed form for the integral.
  • Another participant points out that \(1/m\) is the first derivative of \(\log(m/m_0)\) and suggests that the integral simplifies to \(\log|\log(m/m_0)| + c\).
  • There is a discussion about the constant of integration and how it affects the final expression.
  • Some participants debate the order of preference for choosing \(u\) in integration by parts, referencing the acronyms LIATE and ILATE.
  • One participant expresses uncertainty about the correct order of preference for logarithmic and inverse trigonometric functions in the context of integration.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the rigor of the approaches taken, the validity of substitutions, and the correct order of preference for choosing \(u\). The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best method to solve the integral and the implications of the various substitutions proposed.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the integral's structure and the choice of substitution can significantly affect the outcome, with some expressing uncertainty about the assumptions made in their reasoning.

NEWO
Messages
93
Reaction score
0
I have a formula to solve, which I am having trouble solving, it is a differential equation fo sorts

\int{\frac{1}{m\log(m/mo)}{dm}=\int{\frac{1}{t}}{dt}

could someone help me solve the indefinite integral of such an equation!

the m multiply of the right handside is suppose to be dm and likewise with the t on the left hand side sorry for any confusion!
Thanks for any help

N
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
NEWO said:
I have a formula to solve, which I am having trouble solving, it is a differential equation fo sorts

\int{\frac{1}{m\log(m/mo)}{dm}=\int{\frac{1}{t}}{dt}

could someone help me solve the indefinite integral of such an equation!

the m multiply of the right handside is suppose to be dm and likewise with the t on the left hand side sorry for any confusion!
Thanks for any help

N

Make a substitution u=log(m/mo). I assumed that mo in the denominator was supposed to be mo.
 
How can this work? Its an indefinite integral and the answer's definite. One's with respect to m and the other t. I'm sure it doesn't change the u substitution, but shouldn't everything be noted as rigorously as possible?
 
Dbjergaard said:
How can this work? Its an indefinite integral and the answer's definite. One's with respect to m and the other t. I'm sure it doesn't change the u substitution, but shouldn't everything be noted as rigorously as possible?

I think everything is as already as rigorous as possible, at least for all that the original poster has given, however, I have no idea what you mean by "Its an indefinite integral and the answer's definite."
 
I guess that was wrong.
 
Last edited:
robert Ihnot said:
Something like \int{\frac{1}{m\log(m/mo)}{dm}=\int{\frac{1}{t}}{dt} the first part which could be written as \int{\frac{e^zdz}{z}} I don't suppose has a definite integral in closed form.

How do you get that? I'm pretty sure that the first integral is a fairly straightforward computation once you make a substitution.
 
\int{\frac{1}{m\log(m/mo)}{dm}=\int{\frac{1}{t}}{dt}

Let m=e^x then we get \int{\frac{dx}{x-log m(0)}
 
robert Ihnot said:
\int{\frac{1}{m\log(m/mo)}{dm}=\int{\frac{1}{t}}{dt}

Let m=e^x then we get \int{\frac{dx}{x-log m(0)}

You're missing a factor of e-x which then gives you something you can't integrate, but if you make the substitution u=log(m/m0) then you end up with the integral of 1/u with respect to u.
 
We may just notice that 1/m is the 1st derivative of (log(m/m0)) and that, then, the first integral contains an expression dividing its derivative: integrate[D(log(m/m0))]/log(m/m0)]dm. But this is just log|log(m/m0)|+c; isn't it?
 
  • #10
MWM said:
We may just notice that 1/m is the 1st derivative of (log(m/m0)) and that, then, the first integral contains an expression dividing its derivative: integrate[D(log(m/m0))]/log(m/m0)]dm. But this is just log|log(m/m0)|+c; isn't it?

Yes that's it, and this is the same solution you arrive at using the substitution I mentioned, and is pretty much the sam process.
 
  • #11
Ah, you're right. Ok... as if I hadn't said anything :-)
 
  • #12
Ok thanks guys for your replies,

the thing is I don't get where the m has gone!

surely the integral would be

\int{\frac{1}{m_{0}ue^{u}}}du

??
 
  • #13
NEWO said:
Ok thanks guys for your replies,

the thing is I don't get where the m has gone!

surely the integral would be

\int{\frac{1}{m_{0}ue^{u}}}du

??

How do you get to that? Try using the substitution u=log(m/m0) the integral will turn out very nicely.
 
  • #14
Let u=\log(m/mo)
The integral:\int{\frac{1}{m\log(m/mo)}{dm} becomes \int{\frac{1}{m\cdot u}{dm}. Whats the derivative of log x? 1/x of course.
u=\log (m/mo)
\frac {du}{dm} =\frac{1}{m}
Substituting that in, our integral becomes \int \frac{1}{u} \frac {du}{dm} dm.
Dm's cancel out, that's why your m goes away!
And obviously \int \frac{1}{u} du = \log u.

Now that looks the same form as the right hand side of your first post. Therefore t=\log (m/mo). Hopefully that was what you are looking for.
 
  • #15
Gib Z said:
Let u=\log(m/mo)
The integral:\int{\frac{1}{m\log(m/mo)}{dm} becomes \int{\frac{1}{m\cdot u}{dm}. Whats the derivative of log x? 1/x of course.
u=\log (m/mo)
\frac {du}{dm} =\frac{1}{m}
Substituting that in, our integral becomes \int \frac{1}{u} \frac {du}{dm} dm.
Dm's cancel out, that's why your m goes away!
And obviously \int \frac{1}{u} du = \log u.

Now that looks the same form as the right hand side of your first post. Therefore t=\log (m/mo). Hopefully that was what you are looking for.

You are right but I want to add,
ln(m/mo)=t+c, c is the constant of integration
Simplifying, ln(m)=t+k, k= c+ ln(mo).
 
  • #16
O yes sorry, forgot about the Constant, my bad. Ty for correcting me.
 
  • #17
\int{\frac{1}{m\log(m/mo)}{dm}=\int{\frac{1}{t}}{dt}

What was wrong with substiting X=Log m?

\int{\frac{dx}{x-log m(0)}

Remember, if e^x=m then, e^xdx =dm; so ms in the top and bottem cancel out.
 
Last edited:
  • #18
Yes but then you have another integral to solve via more substitution. Nothing wrong with your method, just longer.
 
  • #19
My natural instinct was to substitute u= ln(m/mo) , for the probable shortest way, I saw later 'Gib Z' also did the same substitution.
 
  • #20
there's a special order to choose your u. Its very helpful: LIATE. Logs, Inverse Trig, Algebraic, Trig, and Exponentials. Go down the list and pick the first one as your u. In that case its obvious this time its the Log.
 
  • #21
Gib Z said:
there's a special order to choose your u. Its very helpful: LIATE. Logs, Inverse Trig, Algebraic, Trig, and Exponentials. Go down the list and pick the first one as your u. In that case its obvious this time its the Log.

Probably you mean ILATE, for choosing the 1st function for integration by parts.
 
  • #22
O no, I am 100% sure i ment LIATE, I've seen ILATE, but I was taught LIATE and i haven't had any problems, everyman to his own :)
 
  • #23
Since L and I are have higher preference than others, the preference between L & I does not matter if you have a function containing one of L or I. But when only L & I functions are there, I is first and then comes L... this is what my class notes of 11th std said. I just have checked a textbook after your post and that confirms mine. I really do not know what the truth is... but had a bias for ILATE as the textbooks mentioned ... and never questioned it before today.
 
  • #24
Gib Z said:
Let u=\log(m/mo)
The integral:\int{\frac{1}{m\log(m/mo)}{dm} becomes \int{\frac{1}{m\cdot u}{dm}. Whats the derivative of log x? 1/x of course.
u=\log (m/mo)
\frac {du}{dm} =\frac{1}{m}
Substituting that in, our integral becomes \int \frac{1}{u} \frac {du}{dm} dm.
Dm's cancel out, that's why your m goes away!
And obviously \int \frac{1}{u} du = \log u.

Now that looks the same form as the right hand side of your first post. Therefore t=\log (m/mo). Hopefully that was what you are looking for.

Correct.
How do you get the special math text to appear?
Cheers,
 
  • #25
You have to learn laTex code. there's a tutorial somehwere, I can't remember...I didnt learn from the tutorial btw, I clicked on other peoples code and learned from that. Click on my code to see what I typed to get that to appear.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
5K