How to Solve the Integral of (x^2+1)/(x^4+1)?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around solving the integral of the function (x^2 + 1)/(x^4 + 1). Participants are exploring various methods and approaches to tackle this integral, which falls under the subject area of calculus.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss applying linearity to break down the integral into simpler components. There are mentions of using partial fractions and completing the square. Some participants express confusion about the correct interpretation of the integral and the importance of parentheses in mathematical expressions.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with various suggestions and methods being proposed. Some participants have provided guidance on potential approaches, while others express uncertainty about their ability to implement these methods effectively. There is no explicit consensus on a single method, and multiple interpretations of the problem are being explored.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the complexity of the integral and the challenges they face in finding a complete solution. There are references to previous knowledge and techniques that may not be applicable in this context, indicating a need for clarification on the methods discussed.

totentanz
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Can anyone help me solving x2+1/x4+1...thanks
 
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Just apply linearity and you'll get:

[tex]\int{x^2dx}+\int{\frac{1}{x^4}dx}+\int{dx}[/tex].

This are elementary integrals, so it is easily solvable.
 
thank you...but can you explain it more?
 
What don't you understand about it? You just apply the formula

[tex]\int{(f(x)+g(x))dx}=\int{f(x)dx}+\int{g(x)dx}[/tex]

Then you have brought the integral to three basic integrals, which you can easily solve with the formula

[tex]\int{x^ndx}=\frac{x^{n+1}}{n+1}+C[/tex] for [tex]n\neq -1[/tex].
 
Did you use partial fractions to get that result? I think he may be referring to:

[tex] \int{\frac{{x^2}+1}{{x^4}+1}dx}[/tex]
 
Last edited:
Caramon said:
Did you use partial fractions to get that result? I think he may be referring to the integral of ((x^2 + 1)/(x^4 + 1))dx

Ah yes, that may make more sense...

To the OP: Parantheses in mathematics are EXTREMELY important! Don't add too few of them.
 
So, which question is it? (Before I spend a year doing partial fractions, completing the square, substitution, and god knows what else)
 
Caramon said:
Did you use partial fractions to get that result? I think he may be referring to:

[tex] \int{\frac{{x^2}+1}{{x^4}+1}dx}[/tex]

Yes this is what I mean...but when you decompose the fraction I get

(x^2+1)/((x^2+1)(x^2+1)+2)
 
Last edited:
  • #11
-decompose into partial fractions (with completed squares)
-obvious
inverse tangent
 
  • #12
[itex]x^4+ 1= 0[/itex] has no real roots but we can write [itex]x^4= -1[/itex] so that [itex]x^2= \pm i[/itex] and then get [itex]x= \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}(1+ i)[/itex], [itex]x= \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}(1- i)[/itex], [itex]x= \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}(-1+ i)[/itex], and [itex]x= \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}(-1- i)[/itex] as the four roots. We can pair those by cojugates:
[tex]\left(x- \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}(1+ i)\right)\left(x- \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}(1- i)\right)[/tex][tex]= \left((x- \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2})- i\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\right)\left((x- \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2})+ i\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\right)[/tex][tex]= (x- \sqrt{2}{2})^2+ \frac{1}{2}= x^2- \sqrt{2}x+ 1[/tex]
and
[tex]\left(x- \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}(-1+ i)\right)\left(x- \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}(-1- i)\right)[/tex][tex]= x^2+ \sqrt{2}x+ 1[/tex]

That is, the denominator [itex]x^4+ 1[/itex] factors as
[tex](x^2+ \sqrt{2}x+ 1)(x^2- \sqrt{2}x+ 1)[/tex]
and you can use partial fractions with those.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #13
HallsofIvy said:
[itex]x^4+ 1= 0[/itex] has no real roots but we can write [itex]x^4= -1[/itex] so that [itex]x^2= \pm i[/itex] and then get [itex]x= \sqrt{2}{2}(1+ i)[/itex], [itex]x= \sqrt{2}{2}(1- i)[/itex], [itex]x= \sqrt{2}{2}(-1+ i)[/itex], and [itex]x= \sqrt{2}{2}(-1- i)[/itex] as the four roots. We can pair those by cojugates:
[tex]\left(x- \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}(1+ i)\right)\left(x- \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}(1- i)\right)[/tex][tex]= \left((x- \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2})- i\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\right)\left((x- \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2})+ i\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\right)[/tex][tex]= (x- \sqrt{2}{2})^2+ \frac{1}{2}= x^2- \sqrt{2}x+ 1[/tex]
and
[tex]\left(x- \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}(-1+ i)\right)\left(x- \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}(-1- i)\right)[/tex][tex]= x^2+ \sqrt{2}x+ 1[/tex]

That is, the denominator [itex]x^4+ 1[/itex] factors as
[tex](x^2+ \sqrt{2}x+ 1)(x^2- \sqrt{2}x+ 1)[/tex]
and you can use partial fractions with those.

Thanks bro...this is what I was looking for...I hope it works
 
Last edited:
  • #14
sorry my friend but it is not working
 
  • #15
Back in my high school days I knew tricks for these. For an anti-derivative sought in a subset of R excluding 0, we can make the following tricks:

[tex]\int \frac{x^2 +1}{x^4 +1} \, dx = \int \frac{1+\frac{1}{x^2}}{x^2 + \frac{1}{x^2}} \, dx = \int \frac{d\left(x-\frac{1}{x}\right)}{\left(x-\frac{1}{x}\right)^2 + \left(\sqrt{2}\right)^2} = ...[/tex]
 
  • #16
dextercioby said:
Back in my high school days I knew tricks for these. For an anti-derivative sought in a subset of R excluding 0, we can make the following tricks:

[tex]\int \frac{x^2 +1}{x^4 +1} \, dx = \int \frac{1+\frac{1}{x^2}}{x^2 + \frac{1}{x^2}} \, dx = \int \frac{d\left(x-\frac{1}{x}\right)}{\left(x-\frac{1}{x}\right)^2 + \left(\sqrt{2}\right)^2} = ...[/tex]

Thanks my friend,this is great...because I am stuck in this exo,and I can not go on
 
  • #17
You have been given a number of different suggestions (dextercioby's making the problem almost trivial) but keep saying you cannot do it- and showing no work at all. Have you tried what dextercioby suggested? What did you do and where did you run into trouble.
 
  • #18
HallsofIvy said:
You have been given a number of different suggestions (dextercioby's making the problem almost trivial) but keep saying you cannot do it- and showing no work at all. Have you tried what dextercioby suggested? What did you do and where did you run into trouble.

I am working on solving it all week,and I can not find a complete answer except what Mr.dextercioby show...and I already solve this "normalization of the wavefunction",thank you for your care
 
  • #19
totentanz said:
I am working on solving it all week,and I can not find a complete answer except what Mr.dextercioby show...and I already solve this "normalization of the wavefunction",thank you for your care

Ok...I solve it
 

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