# Integral of (x-4)/(x^2-x+2)

## Homework Statement

$\frac{x-4}{x^2-x+2}$

## The Attempt at a Solution

$\frac{x-4}{(x-1/2)^2+7/4}$
u = x - 1/2 = $\frac{\sqrt{7}}{2}$tan$\theta$ ; du = $\sqrt{7}$/2 sec^2(theta)
x = u + 1/2
$\int\frac{(u−7/2)(\sqrt{7}/2sec^2(\theta)}{7/4 sec^2(\theta)}$

This simplifies to: $\int tan(\theta) - \sqrt{7}$
= ln(sec(theta)) - $\sqrt{7}$(theta)
= ln($\frac{\sqrt{(2x-1)^2+7}}{\sqrt{7}}$) - $\sqrt{7}$arctan($\frac{2x-1}{\sqrt{7}}$) + C

Mark44
Mentor

## Homework Statement

$\frac{x-4}{x^2-x+2}$

## The Attempt at a Solution

$\frac{x-4}{(x-1/2)^2+7/4}$
u = x - 1/2 = $\frac{\sqrt{7}}{2}$tan$\theta$ ; du = $\sqrt{7}$/2 sec^2(theta)
x = u + 1/2
$\int\frac{(u−7/2)(\sqrt{7}/2sec^2(\theta)}{7/4 sec^2(\theta)}$

This simplifies to: $\int tan(\theta) - \sqrt{7}$
= ln(sec(theta)) - $\sqrt{7}$(theta)
= ln($\frac{\sqrt{(2x-1)^2+7}}{\sqrt{7}}$) - $\sqrt{7}$arctan($\frac{2x-1}{\sqrt{7}}$) + C

Do you have a question?

You can check your answer by differentiating. If you end up with the same as the original integrand, your answer is correct. It's pretty messy, but if you use log properties before you differentiate, that will make things a lot simpler.

Another approach that is probably simpler is to split up the integrand using partial fractions.

I cant think of any "tricks" to solving this. I don't see how you could use partial fractions either... Did you make this problem up?

Mark44
Mentor
Yeah, on second thought, partial fractions wouldn't be as easy as I thought. The factors would include complex numbers.

It is quite easy to solve the given integral.

Rewrite it as
$$\frac{1}{2}\int \frac{2x-1}{x^2-x+2}dx-\frac{7}{2}\int\frac{dx}{x^2-x+2}$$

Both the integrals can be easily solved.

It is quite easy to solve the given integral.

Rewrite it as
$$\frac{1}{2}\int \frac{2x-1}{x^2-x+2}dx-\frac{7}{2}\int\frac{dx}{x^2-x+2}$$

Both the integrals can be easily solved.

How did you even think of that o.o and it still is pretty difficult to solve the 2nd one.

Dick
Homework Helper
How did you even think of that o.o and it still is pretty difficult to solve the 2nd one.

You complete the square, just like Nicolaus did in the OP. Everybody here knows that the answer in the first post is correct, yes? The only problem with it is that the log term is in a pretty awkward form.

I am just wondering if that is correct. Ya, the log form is messy.
To simplify that:

ln((2x−1)2+7√7√) - 7√arctan(2x−17√) + C
= 1/2(ln(2x-1)^2+1) - ln(7))

So, the integral in the OP is correct, right?

Dick
Homework Helper
I am just wondering if that is correct. Ya, the log form is messy.
To simplify that:

ln((2x−1)2+7√7√) - 7√arctan(2x−17√) + C
= 1/2(ln(2x-1)^2+1) - ln(7))

So, the integral in the OP is correct, right?

Yes it's correct, but I could read the integral in the OP. I can't read what you have written there or what you are thinking.

ehild
Homework Helper
The solution looks a bit simpler in the form ##1/2 \ln |x^2-x+2|-\sqrt7 \arctan(\frac{2x-1}{\sqrt7})+C##

ehild

iRaid, the question can not be solved by partial fractions. The method is as follows :

You have to get the form Pranav got. I would tell you how ?

Method I: By inspection: Just break the fraction and try to get the form f'(x)dx/f(x)...

Method II :

Let,

x-4=λd(x2-x+2)/dx + μ

You can find λ, and μ by comparing the coefficients. Then break the fraction to get,

FORM : Integral of Derivative of function/Function + Integration of reciprocal of a quadratic.

The second one is integrated by method of perfect squares which I hope you know.

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