Integrals: Solving with Substitutions

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The discussion focuses on solving integrals using substitution methods. Participants express confusion about the substitution process and how to proceed after making substitutions. An example integral is worked through, demonstrating how to substitute variables and rewrite the integral in simpler terms. Clarifications are made regarding the importance of expressing everything in terms of one variable and ensuring the differential matches. The conversation highlights common pitfalls and emphasizes understanding the substitution technique for successful integration.
Jacobpm64
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Find the integral.

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/1228/int203bd.gif

This one is just so confusing. *sigh*

Find the antiderivative.

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/7179/int264ol.gif

I don't know how to approach this one.. I'm guessing making some substitutions.. but i don't know how you actually work it when you make subtitutions.. just like in my other post.. I can make substitutions.. but i don't know what to do after that. I need one with substitutions worked for me if they're all similar.
 
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Would it help you to see how a substitution works if I worked out a simple problem?

\int\frac{2x}{\sqrt{x^2+1}} \ dx

u=x^2+1
du=2x\dx

\int\frac{1}{\sqrt{u}} \ du <-Substitute values for u and du as appropriate.

\int u^{-\frac{1}{2}} du<-Just rewriting the square root sign as a power of -1/2 to make it easier to see the integration.

2u^{\frac{1}{2}}

2(x^2+1)^{\frac{1}{2}}<--substitute back for u=x2

2\sqrt{x^2+1}

Take a minute to understand why the substitution worked. You want to put everything in terms of one variable. By choosing u to be the value in the square root you obtain a value of du that matches the other x and dx values.
 
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How's this for the first one?

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/7520/inttry206vz.gif

And this for the second?

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/6919/noworkint266iv.gif

Another one came out with an undefined answer, but the answer in the back of the book turned it into natural logs.. hmm.. i don't know how that works.. But following the same pattern.. i'd get..

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/1598/workint262dh.gif

hmm?
 
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Well see du is the differential of u...

If u is x^2+2x+2 then du would be (2x+2)dx
 
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lol forget i said that..

ok, i understand how to get what du is equal to.. what i don't get now is.. in your example problem, you never substituted back for the value of du.. so would it even change my answer?
 
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In the second integral: u=1-4x so du=-4dx NOT 2dx.
and \int u^{-1} du = lnu NOT u^{-1}/0
 
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Look a bit more carefully at dav2008's example. Do you see du anywhere in the expression: 2u1/2? That's why he never substituted the value of du back in.
 

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