Integrating 1/e^x [ (1-e^-2x)^1/2]

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the integration of the function 1/[e^x (1-e^(-2x))^1/2]. Participants are exploring various methods to approach this integral, including integration by parts and substitutions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss splitting the integral and using substitutions such as u=e^-x and t^2=1-e^-2x. There are attempts to differentiate results and verify solutions, leading to questions about the validity of different approaches.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants sharing their attempts and questioning the outcomes of different methods. Some have verified their work through differentiation, while others express confusion over discrepancies with computational tools like Mathematica.

Contextual Notes

There are indications of varying results from different substitution methods, and participants are grappling with the implications of their choices on the integral's evaluation. The presence of arcsin integrals and natural logarithms in their attempts suggests complexity in the problem setup.

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Homework Statement


Integrate.
1/ [e^x (1-e^(-2x))^1/2]


Homework Equations


integration by parts


The Attempt at a Solution


First I split up the integral so it would be (1/e^-x)[(1/(1-e^-2x)^1/2]
Then I set u=e^-x, dv= (1-e^-2x)^-1/2
du= -e^-x
For my v I got 2(1-e^-2x)^1/2 but I don't know how to go about with the e^-2x, as in how to finish solving for the v-part.

I tried u-substitution and I get another term in the denominator. Then when I tried to differentiate the answer I originally got for v, I did not have anything in the denominator... can anyone help?
 
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[tex]\int \frac{1}{e^x \sqrt{1-e^{-2x}}} dx[/tex]



try [itex]t^2=1-e^{-2x}[/itex]
 
Is that valid? I just tried to solve it using your suggestion and with u=e^-x. With the u-subst I end up getting the arcsin integral, but I get something different with the t^2 substitution.
 
That's what I did too and verified it by taking it's derivative, but Mathematica gives a totally different solution.

I changed mine to:

[tex]\int\frac{e^{-x}}{\sqrt{1-(e^{-x})^2}}dx[/tex]

Used:

[tex]u=e^{-x} \rightarrow \ln{u}=-x[/tex]
 
Oh interesting, why did you take the natural log? Where does that come into play?
 
I let:

[tex]u=e^{-x}[/tex] be my u-sub

[tex]-\frac{du}{u}=dx[/tex] be my du-sub
 

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