Integrating x/2: Why is u-substitution not being used?

bobsmith76
Messages
336
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



Screenshot2012-02-10at55111AM.png


I don't understand why the x/2 is not being integrated. I would think one should use u substitution. u = x/2, du = x, but they're not doing that.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Actually the book referred has used this substitution and have finally put u=x/2 again as question is asked in form of x/2 and not in u.
 
Actually, they DID, but they skipped a couple of steps (like explaining HOW they integrated). If you try a u-substitution, you'll get the same answer they did.
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...

Similar threads

Replies
12
Views
2K
Replies
15
Views
2K
Replies
28
Views
2K
Replies
22
Views
3K
Replies
27
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
1K
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
44
Views
5K
Replies
11
Views
2K
Back
Top