Integrating a Line Integral over a Parabola: A Challenging Task?

kbaumen
Messages
190
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



<br /> \int_{C}(xy+\ln{x})\mathrm{d}s<br />

where C is the arc of the parabola y=x^2 from (1,1) to (3,9)

Homework Equations



<br /> \int_{C}f(x,y)\mathrm{d}s = \int_{a}^{b}f(x(t),y(t))\sqrt{(\frac{dx}{dt})^2+(\frac{dy}{dt})^2}\mathrm{d}t<br />

The Attempt at a Solution



Ok, so I take x as the parameter t, so the parametric equations of the line x=t and y=t^2 where t\in [1,3]. I can then rewrite this line integral as a regular definite integral by using the formula mentioned above (pardon the bad formatting). However, when I do that, I come up with

<br /> \int_{1}^{3}(t^3+\ln{t})\sqrt{1+4t^2}\mathrm{d}t<br />

I can't seem to find a way to integrate this function. It is integrable, at least according to the Wolfram Integrator. A solutions manual for the book I'm studying from comes up with

<br /> \int_{1}^{3}(t^3+\ln{t})\sqrt{4t^2}\mathrm{d}t = \int_{1}^{3}(t^3+\ln{t})2t\mathrm{d}t<br />

which is quite straightforward, however, it seems to me that it's a mistake since \frac{dx}{dt}=1 thus there is a 1 missing under the square root.

So can someone please help me find a way to integrate the integral I've come up with or am I missing something simple, i.e. it has been set up correctly in the book?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Oh yeah, I had incorrectly input it in the wolfram integrator. The integral indeed cannot be expressed in terms of elementary functions.

So how do I go about the integral I have?
 
Ok, cheers man.
 
Prove $$\int\limits_0^{\sqrt2/4}\frac{1}{\sqrt{x-x^2}}\arcsin\sqrt{\frac{(x-1)\left(x-1+x\sqrt{9-16x}\right)}{1-2x}} \, \mathrm dx = \frac{\pi^2}{8}.$$ Let $$I = \int\limits_0^{\sqrt 2 / 4}\frac{1}{\sqrt{x-x^2}}\arcsin\sqrt{\frac{(x-1)\left(x-1+x\sqrt{9-16x}\right)}{1-2x}} \, \mathrm dx. \tag{1}$$ The representation integral of ##\arcsin## is $$\arcsin u = \int\limits_{0}^{1} \frac{\mathrm dt}{\sqrt{1-t^2}}, \qquad 0 \leqslant u \leqslant 1.$$ Plugging identity above into ##(1)## with ##u...
Back
Top