How can I integrate (1-x)ln(1-x) using integration by parts?

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The integral of (1-x)ln(1-x) from 0 to 1 can be approached using integration by parts, but care must be taken due to the logarithmic singularity at x=1. The integral can be split into two parts: ∫ln(1-x)dx and ∫xln(1-x)dx, but the first part requires limits to handle the ln(0) issue properly. The correct evaluation shows that the function is continuous and bounded on [0,1), leading to a finite result. Ultimately, the integral evaluates to -1/4, highlighting the importance of addressing the limits correctly when dealing with improper integrals.
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Hello

So I have a problem, which is to use integration by parts to integrate...

\int^{1}_{0}(1-x) ln (1-x) dx

The way I have been working is it to separate it out into just...

\int^{1}_{0}ln (1-x) dx - \int^{1}_{0}x ln (1-x) dx

and then integrating by parts on each of these seperatele, but for instance if I integrate by parts the first bit, I get...

[xln(1-x)]^{1}_{0} + \int^{1}_{0}x \frac{1}{1-x}

And I am thinking the first part to this doesn't make sense, because ln (0) is a mathematical nono. So I am confused with regard to this problem - has anybody any decent suggestions on how to do this?

Thanks :)
 
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The integral isn't proper (you're working right up to a pole!) so you must take limit to 1, not just put in the values.
 
Integral is proper because the function (1-x)\ln(1-x) is continuous and bounded on [0,1) (it has finite limit when x\rightarrow 1).

\int_0^1(1-x)\ln(1-x)\,dx=\left.-\frac{(1-x)^2\ln(1-x)}{2}\right|_0^1-\int_0^1\frac{1-x}{2}\,dx=\left.\frac{(1-x)^2}{4}\right|_0^1=-\frac{1}{4}.

Your problem is in decomposing the finite value in the form of substraction of two infinite values.
 
Here is a little puzzle from the book 100 Geometric Games by Pierre Berloquin. The side of a small square is one meter long and the side of a larger square one and a half meters long. One vertex of the large square is at the center of the small square. The side of the large square cuts two sides of the small square into one- third parts and two-thirds parts. What is the area where the squares overlap?

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